Snow Anyone?

Well we had one big snow storm this past weekend (with more in the forcast for tomorrow night) and while these aren’t the best pictures I thought I would share them anyways.

Showing some of the drifting

 

Fresh Off the Hook 2/05/10

Well I have 2, yes 2 items to share with you today.  It’s been quite a dry spell for me and I really had to force myself to finish these but they are done and I’m hoping that this is a turn around point for me.

First up is a an intrique cross.  This was very easy to crochet but figuring out the twists and turns was a whole another story.

Next up is an initial cross.  You can see the L in the middle.  This pattern is from Crochet World April 2008 (or mabye 2009)

Those are it.  Like I said, I hope to more for next week and that hopefully this slump is over.

2 meals under 7.50

Well here are some results for this week.  I made 2 meals that came to under 7.50 each and weren’t too difficult to figure out the cost.  First up was Macaroni and Cheese with little sausages and lima beans.

This was before it was baked.

The cost:

• 1lb macaroni noodles- .85
• 4 cups cheese- $2.99
• 1 egg- .13
• 1-16 oz packages of little sausages 2.20

Grand total:  $6.17.  Oh yeah, plus the limas which might have been $1.30 so actually 7.47.  I’m not actually sure of the cost of the limas as they were from Angel Food but that’s probably pretty close.

Next up was turkey breast, mashed potatoes, carrots, and gravy.  Now this meal is cheap because the turkey breast was on sale and will be used for 2 meals plus the potatoes were on sale.

Here’s the cost break down:

• 1- 7lb pound turkey breast (cooked the whole thing only ate half)- $3.50
• 3lbs potatoes- .70
• 1-16oz bag of carrots- 1.59 (however used a WIC check to get them)
• milk and butter for making potatoes I’m going to say about 1.25
• flour and seasoning for gravy I’m going with -.75

Grand total 6.54.  Really not bad.  This meal was definately based on sales and being able to use a WIC check.

I highly encourage you to make meals based on what you have and what’s on sale.

Personal Challenge update

Well it’s 2 weeks later and while I didn’t do to bad I have realized some items.

First:  I know why I dislike trying to figure out how much a meal cost: figuring out bulk items is time consuming and a pain!  Who wants to figure out how much 1 cup of flour costs or 1 tsp. of garlic powder?  I have decided I don’t.  There are other things on my to do list that are little more important.  That being said I can share some other things.

Second:  Meatless doesn’t fly in this house hold, at least not for supper.  Yes I know that is the easiest way to cut down ones grocery budget but when  you spouse won’t go for it than you may end up spending more trying to accomadate what they do.  This leads me to my third realization.

Third:  Meat that is incorporated goes further than meat indivivually served.  In case I’m not clear about what I mean let me explain.  This past week we had Waffles with Chicken Gravy.  Now if I would have made the chicken as a “here’s a piece for you” I would have needed a lot more chicken.  Instead I was able to use the meat from maybe 2 or 3 leg quarters and it feed everyone.  So in other words, meat will go further in stir fries, casseroles, and soup then say roasts.  Now some of you may have already know this but in case you didn’t now you do.

Now I’ve taken all of that into consideration when I made my menu for the next 2 weeks along with looking at the sales cirrulator.  Well see how we do over the next 2 weeks.  Here’s what’s on the menu:

• turkey breast, mashed potatoes, veggie, and gravy x2
• spaghetti
• ramen with veggies
• turkey corn soup
• turkey pot pie
• mac and cheese with little sausages x2
• hot dogs and baked beans
• chicken patties
• salmon cakes, rice, and veggie
• eggs and bacon
• upside down pizza casserole

Maybe, just maybe I’ll have a picture and rough cost break down of at least 2 of these meals.

Fresh Off the Hook 1/29/10

Nothing!  That’s what I have to share with you this morning, nothing!  It’s been a bad week, let me tell.  It’s so discouraging when things aren’t turning out right and just not knowing what to make.  I’m sorry to disappoint you and hope that there will be at leat 1 thing to share with you next week.

Until then, have a good one!

Planning a giveaway

Okay so it’s on my mind to do a giveaway but I’m not sure what to offer.  However I want to let you know that some members of the SHETeam ( myself included) will be starting a hide-n-seek game next week and it has 2 awesoome prizxez!  Stay tuned for more details.

Creative Block

Well I’ve heard of writer’s block and I’m quite sure I have creative block right now.  I see things I like but don’t like.  I start things and frog them because they aren’t coming out right.  I just don’t know what to do.  Course some of the problem comes from a realization I had.  Here it:  My inventory doesn’t inspire me and if it doesn’t inspire me how can I sell.  There’s nothing wrong with my inventory I just am having a hard time trying to promote it and sell.  So now when I look at possible items to make I ask myself if I want to promote it and everything.  When I ask myself that the answer seems to come back as no so then I’m back to square one as to what to make.  I try not crocheting but I have to be doing something and crocheting is normally the answer so I will sit and try to pick something up.  I need to find a way to break this block.  Any ideas?

Fresh Off the Hook 1/22/10

Well not a lot to share this week.  Most of my time was spent working on Slingshots M pillow.  So only two things to share this week.

First the M pillow.  It didn’t turn out too bad but if I had to make it again I might make some slight adjustments.

Second item I got done was for the Estyhookers Creative Challenge number 8.  You can read more and see the other entries over here.  It’s a framed mirror done in variegated thread.

So that’s it for this week.  Oh and I know that this isn’t completely related but if you are looking for Valentine gifts I highly encourage you to check out the SHETeam blog.  There have been items listed everyday this week based on different catergories.  Stayed tuned and see what I turn out next week.

My Personal Challenge

So last week I shared about how I don’t have a clue what a meal costs us and how some of the problem of determining that came from getting Angel Food and WIC.  Well due to circumstances out of our control we will not be getting Angel Food this month.  Knowing that made me take a hard look at what’s on hand and what I could do with it in order to stretch the food budget as far as possible.  So here’s the plan.  We decided Iwould have $100 for groceries for the next 2 weeks.  I still have/had meat for this week from Angel food so I started there.  I made a menu that is good until the end of the month and then came up with what I thought, hope, will be cheap meals.  I was using the store circular when I did this.  I didn’t take a picture of everything I got yesterday but here is a sampling:

And now here’s my menu:

• Beef Noodle Soup
• pork roast with mashed potatoes, veggie, and gravy
• PB&J (it’s slingshot’s request for her birthday supper)
• black bean soup
• ham and eggs
• beef tomatoe dish (it’s from $5dinners, I don’t remember what she called it)
• waffles with chicken gravy
• eggs and bacon
• ramen with veggies
• sloppy joes and baked beans
• Chicken Cacciatore
• chili

We’ll have leftovers at least once and we are using a gift card from Christmas to go out to eat one evening as well.  Now I know I don’t have lunches up there but they are normally sandwiches.  I’m hopefully that I can at least break down and share some of the cost of those dishes and become more aware of what a meal costs us.  I’m also hoping to not go over the $100.  I still have about $30 left and I know that I’ll probably need to get lunch meat next week.  I’ll keep you update as to how things go.

Fresh off the Hook 1/15/10

Wow, half way through the month already, can you believe it?  I’ve had an up down week with my crocheting.   You may have read earlier in the week where I ripped out 2 projects and needless to say I haven’t gotten them redone yet.  I’ve also not gotten nearly as far done on another project as I would have liked to but I did get somethings done and now will share them with you.

First up is a set of butterfly barrettes.  I think they turned out rather cute and now have them for sale in my etsy shop.

Next is a cute little bag that will hold the essentials.

Next is a framed mirror.  I was a little concerned about this when I was working on it but it’s come out rather nicely.

Last up is another barrette only done in hearts this time, just in time for Valentine’s day.  This is also listed in my etsy store.

So there you have it.  My finished projects for the week.  Tune in next week to see what is Fresh off the hook.