Thursday, June 30, 2011

Thursday's picture perfect deal...

The picture...

Our Lupins were blooming and I spotted this beetle sunning itself after all the rain on one of the buds.  Even the beetles were enjoying seeing the sun after all our rain.
The deal...

There are a lot of sales going on for the long holiday weekend and I found a great one at Eddie Bauer.  Right now they have everything on sale up to 75% off.  Plus you get a free freezer water bottle for only $5.99 with every purchase, no minimum! 

I hope you are all having a great week, remember to enter the Saturday Swap and join in the fun!

C.Q.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Wednesday's learn and earn...

~WORD OF THE DAY~

jalousie \JAL-uh-see\ ~ noun


DEFINITION(s) 1: a blind with adjustable horizontal slats for admitting light and air while excluding direct sun and rain

2: a window made of adjustable glass louvers that control ventilation

EXAMPLES: The rooms of the little bungalow were protected from the brutal tropical heat by wooden jalousies.

"The striated world visible through the slanted jalousies above the queen-size beds is bright and green." -- Donovan Hohn's 2011 book Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of Them

DID YOU KNOW? Etymologists are clear on the source of the word "jalousie" -- it's French for "jealousy" -- but the relationship between the emotion and the window treatments originally referred to as jalousies is not something they've speculated much about. Is it that those peering out through the original jalousie blinds were jealous of the people outside? Or is it more likely that the jealousy festered in the hearts of those outside, who could see the blinds but not the faces and lives of the people they hid? This excerpt from the October 23, 1766 entry in the Duchess of Northumberland's diary perhaps provides a clue: "Rows of Seats with Jalousies in Front that [the women] may not be seen."

~THE REBATE~

This is a great thing for both your home and your car, Johnson and Johnson is offering a free build your own First Aid Kit when you buy any (3) three products (in any combination) from these participating brands: Band-Aid Brand Adhesive Bandages, Johnson & Johnson Red Cross Brand, Neosporin, Benadryl Topical or Cortaid (except trial sizes).  Send in the rebate form together with the UPCs from the packages taped in place together with a store identified dated recipet with the qualified items prices checked. Request must be postmarked by 9/30.

Don't forget to check out the current swap we have going on, its a lot of fun!

Hope you have a great Wednesday!

C.Q.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Tastefully Tuesday...

The fourth of July is comming up fast and I thought I would give you a fun idea I have used in the past for a great red white and blue pizza dessert.  Its really simple and you can make the "dough" portion ahead of time and keep it refrigerated, then you can do the rest right before you serve.  I always get ohhhs and awwwws over this simple treat.

Fruit Flag pizza

1 (17 ounce) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon extract (almond, lemon or orange work great)
3 cups fruit; blue berries and strawberries and/or raspberries
1/2 cup orange marmalade

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Roll out cookie dough in a rectangle the thickness of pizza dough and the size of a baking sheet.  Bake for 8 to 15 minutes or until firm, allow the dough to cool completely.

Mix together cream cheese and extract of your choice. Spread cream cheese mixture over cooled cookie dough crust.  Arrange your fruit in the shape of the flag, using the strawberries/raspberries for the stripes and the blueberries for the star background.  When the fruit is arranged the way you like slightly warm marmalade and brush it over the fruit to help hold it in place.  Serve immediately.


Today's no cook idea is from Marie Callender’s.  You can bring your kids in on Tuesday's and Saturday's for a free meal.  Kids 12 years old and younger. You get one child's meal with each adult meal ordered and doesn't include the tax or gratuity.  Served with your choice of any slice of pie (excludes cheesecakes, seasonal fresh fruit pies and promotional pies).  Be sure to mention the promotion, sometimes the discount is not automatic.

I hope you are all having a great week.

C.Q.



Monday, June 27, 2011

Meet me on Monday...

Monday seems to roll around faster when the weather is warmer for some reason.  Its time for another Meet Me On Monday hop hosted by Java over at Never Growing Old.  Thanks to Bernie for taking up the Monday slack for me last week, I loved her answers for me. :)




Here are this weeks questions:

1. What is your favorite food?
2. What color scheme is your bedroom?
3. Do you carry a donor card?
4. In your opinion, is the glass half empty or half full?
5. Vanilla or Chocolate?

---------------------------------------------------------------
1. What is your favorite food?

Oh this is an easy one, Lawry's Prime Rib, when ever I am in a town with a Lawry's I go there.

2. What color scheme is your bedroom?

Dark Brown walls and black out light green drapes, its very peaceful and cozy feeling.

3. Do you carry a donor card?

Nope, I was exposed to Hepatitis as a little girl and had to have a gamma globulin shot with the worlds largest needle I have ever seen and now no one wants anything of mine, but if you can I know how much it means, one of my best friends has had two kidney transplants, and I for one am very thankful for those donors!

4. In your opinion, is the glass half empty or half full?


A friend of mine has a very realist view of this very question that I love, half empty or half full either way I am gonna end up washing the glass.

5. Vanilla or Chocolate?


Vanilla, I love a great natural french vanilla alone or with toppings.
 
Have a great week everyone.
 
C.Q.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Sunday's media madness...

One of my best friends was thrilled to go see Michael Buble in concert last night so I though I would list one his CDs as my choice for today.  The one I chose is the Crazy Love Hollywood Edition because it contains his two latest albums together.  The lowest price for the CD set is at Red Tag Market for $21.66 with free shipping.  I found this for the lowest price at Grooves-Inc for $11.00 if you want to download the album right to your MP3.

I hope you are all having a great weekend!

C.Q.

The Blog Entourage


Sunday Blog Hop Shibley Smiles

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Saturday's swap...

OK, I am going to do it again for July, think about where you live and with a budget of at least $10 purchase something that represents where you are, package it up with a postcard from your city or state and mail it off to a person the pair you up with. I think this can be a lot of fun, I know a ton of sites are doing craft swaps, this is similar, except you don't have to make anything, unless you want to. To join just leave a comment and next Saturday I will pair you up with another reader. If this goes well I will do it again next month. If we end up with an odd number participating I will jump in and swap as well, so no one will be left out who wants to join in the fun.  After you receive your package be sure to post about it on your site.

Have a great weekend everyone!

C.Q.

The Blog Entourage


So Followed Saturday


Between the Lines


Friday, June 24, 2011

A Different Type of Friday Freebie

Nina from The Adventures ArtsyNina has graciously agreed to let Living on Less show off the cool DIY cookbook shelf she made for FREE! Thank you so much, Ms. Nina!!

Nina is living in and remodeling a house built in 1884. Her blog is a mix of recipes, house remodeling and general life. She has a vintage cookbook collection and actually cooks with those recipes. She is a very funny vintage loving gal. Be sure to check out her blog.

Pallet Kitchen Cookbook Shelf

Pallet madness is everywhere. The final 'I must make a pallet something' straw was after reading Little Lucy Lu and seeing her Pinterest board.

Hmm... I could make a pallet head board, or a pallet table, or a pallet...SHELF!

We have three pallets leftover from the roof shingle deliveries last year. Tom was just about to burn them. Nooo!!! No I cried!

I measured. Tom took pictures.


Tom has a hobby of taking Nina Butt pics

I visited the county hazardous waste facility for some FREE supplies. I wasn't sure what finish I would give the shelf, so took a few things. And took pictures.



I cut. I sanded. I painted. And took pictures.



Tom and Jack had fun with water. I appreciated the toddler distraction while I got my major craft on.



It turned out better than I had hoped! One of the free cans was a gloss red latex paint. I diluted it with water and applied it with a rag so that it looked more like a stain. I love the look of it, but it doesn't fit nearly as many cookbooks as I had hoped! I might have to make another one.




Total project cost: ZERO. Oh yah baby!



A Mommy's Sweet Blog Design Friday Blog Hop

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Thank you Alexis!

I am so pleased to be guest blogging for Coupon Queen! Today I will be discussing organization in small areas. I realize this is a topic often covered on other sites or blogs, but let’s face it--most of us live busy enough lives that simplification is necessary in order to feel less overwhelmed and more in control.

As someone who has lived in small areas for the last five years, I have had to discover creative ways to utilize the amount of space I was gifted. Most of my apartments had one (if any) very small closet, limited pantry space and little to no shelving. Disorganization drives me bonkers, even though clutter seems to constantly be around my house, so finding ways to camouflage little piles becomes the major concern in my home.

This delightful mail sorter is a recent find and has worked wonders on my piles of mail lying all over the home. Bright and Blithe offers a fantastic tutorial for this project and even includes the cute little labels. A much better (and far more adorable) choice than a typical plastic box. Not to mention cost effective. You can locate a substantial piece of fabric for $2, especially if you find one you like in the remnant bin.


I have a hard time finding space to keep all my craft supplies. They seem to reproduce at rates akin to rabbits. Since I have no extra closet I cannot simply put them in there, nor can I build shelves in my rental. My solution; A winged table with shelving below and beautiful decorated boxes. It currently sits in the corner with one wing down, but if company were to show up I can easily pull it out and bring the other wing up. The boxes blend in and look like an extra decor piece. No one will ever know that on the inside of those boxes, it is a complete disaster ;-).


Nothing is worse than not having a place to put your toiletries and grooming supplies. When I moved into my current apartment, I realized that I quite literally had nowhere to put anything. Not only that, but even a tiny floor cabinet would block the way to the necessary (making for an even greater mess if one is in a hurry). I quickly located an over-the-toilet cabinet and an over-the-sink shelf, which has made an incredible difference. While the cabinet is a bit spendy, it’s worth keeping eye cream in the bathroom instead of storing it in the kitchen.

Finally, I have mentioned lack of closet space several times. One never realizes how necessary it may be until one doesn’t have it (*don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you got til’ it’s gone*). I suggest you go down to your local thrift stores and search for a wardrobe. If you have enough wall space to give up, it is incredibly worth it, especially if you can find a good deal. I found mine for $50 and it only had some drawer issues which were easily fixed. If you neither want nor need so much space being taken up by a large block of wood, try an old steamer trunk which can serve as a chair and storage space. A gorgeous vintage piece adds character to your home and offers a place for extra towels.











My hope is that some of you will find this helpful, and if nothing else I have provided a few photos which I know I always like. I hope you all have a fantastic week!



*My thanks to Alexis from Simply Beautiful Veg. for her help while I am on vacation! Please stop by and visit her blog or her Esty Shop. :) C.Q.










Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Wednesday's learn and earn...

~WORD OF THE DAY~

acolyte \AK-uh-lyte\ ~ noun

DEFINITION(s) 1: one who assists a member of the clergy in a liturgical service by performing minor duties
2: one who attends or assists : follower

EXAMPLES: The lawyer arrived with one of her acolytes, an eager young attorney who looked at her with obvious admiration.

"The abbess's rank is clear -- below the masters, above the acolytes -- but Housekeeper Satsuki shoulders more duties than she enjoys privileges." -- From David Mitchell's 2010 novel The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet

DID YOU KNOW? Follow the etymological path of "acolyte" back far enough and you'll arrive at "keleuthos," a Greek noun that means "path" and that is itself the parent of "akolouthos," an adjective that means "following." "Akolouthos" traveled from Greek, leaving offspring in Medieval Latin and Anglo-French, and its descendant, "acolyte," emerged in English in the 14th century. Originally, it was exclusively a term for a person who assisted a priest at Mass, but by the 19th century "acolyte" had acquired additional meanings, among them "attendant body, satellite" (a meaning used in astronomy) and "attendant insect" (a zoological sense), as well as the general meaning "assistant" or "sidekick."

~THE REBATE~

Now through December 31, 2011 when you enter the UPCs from specific Kellogg's cereals you will get a $10.00 Debit card back by mail. You do not need to have the receipts or to mail anything in for this offer, just download the UPCs form and fill it in with the UPCs from any of the following cereals you purchase; Kellogg’s All-Bran Original, Kellogg’s All-Bran Bran Buds, Kellogg’s All-Bran Complete Wheat Flakes, Kellogg’s Smart Start Strong Heart Antioxidant, Kellogg’s Smart Start Strong Heart Toasted Oat, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Touch of Honey, Kellogg’s Raisin Bran, Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Crunch, Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Extra!, Kellogg’s Crispix, Kellogg’s Product 19, Kellogg’s Mueslix, Kellogg’s Cracklin’ Oat Bran, Kellogg’s Lowfat Granola with Raisins, Kellogg’s Lowfat Granola without Raisins, Kellogg’s Fruit Harvest Strawberry/Blueberry, or Kellogg’s Rice Krispies. You can do this offer up to five times per household



I hope you are all having a great week so far!

C.Q.





Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Saving green while being green...

Going green is the currently the “in” thing to do, its cool, its fashionable. For me its nothing new, growing up I was the teen pushing everyone I knew to recycle. I was considered the tree hugging kid on the block, turns out I was just ahead of my time. Now I’m older and I have discovered more ways to help the environment. Of course being the practical sort I have found economic ways of being green as well.

One of the best ways starts with the food we eat, if you have access to a farmers market you can get some of the best quality food while supporting your community of local growers, many of whom are also organic which means no pesticides in the air or ground water. Better still, if you are patient you can start your own garden and have a wonderful payoff at the end of the growing season. There is a fantastic charitable organization called The Dinner Garden that supplies seeds, gardening supplies, and gardening advice free of charge to all people in the US, if you have too many seeds they would be more than willing to redistribute them to people in need, also consider sending them the seeds your garden produces at the end of the year. If you need seeds yourself just let them know and they will get them out to you, you can find them at: The Dinner Garden.

Change the light bulbs in your home, I know you probably have heard it before but ENERGY STAR® Qualified Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs and indoor or outdoor hardwired light fixtures can last up to 10 times as long as regular light bulbs, use up to 75% less energy and save you up to $65 in energy costs. That’s $65 to do something fun with! Switching your appliances to energy star ratings saves a lot over the course of a year as well, check the yellow sticker when you purchasing an appliance and it will tell you how efficient it will be per year.


Beyond changing a light bulb or getting a new dish washer the government offers tax credits for consumers who purchase and install specific products, such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in existing homes; this credit is up to 30% of the cost, up to $1,500, for certain improvements "placed in service" in 2011. You can get all the specifics at EnergyStar for the project you are planning.

Bring your own bags to the grocery store, there are a lot of them now that are offering discounts if you have your own bag. One thing to remember though is to make sure you have a bag designated JUST for meats and poultry. I usually use a plastic bag from the grocery store and re-use at home to empty the cats litter box, then I know its not going to get used again and cause a potential problem. If you don’t want to wash the bags after each trip to the grocery store then it’s a good idea to at least spray the inside of the bags between uses lightly with something like Lysol just to make sure there is no cross contamination with other raw foods you may be eating. Let the bags air out after you use them and don’t use them for anything other then groceries. Here is a cool way to give an old T-shirt a second life by turning it into a shopping bag: T-shirt shopping-bag If you get enough of these you will never need to buy a store bag again!

Paying too much for your city water bill? Consider putting in a rain Barrel or two. What you pay for the barrels you will get back in what you pay the water company in the summer. In a year with average rain fall you should be able to water your garden as well as your lawn. Sam’s Club has a 200 gallon green collapsible rain barrel available for only $108.18 with free shipping at: Sam's club rain barrel.


Love reading a magazine every week or month? That subscription costs cash and even recycled its hard on the planet. Check out the free eZines available on line, one of the best that fits right in with the cause can be found at: Living Green Magazine. It is full of helpful and sometimes surprising information as well as ideas of things you can do to help the environment.


And finally, if you are considering buying a green product but don’t know how well it performs or if you will get your money‘s worth, try this site, its considered the consumers guide to the green revolution and should have useful information on almost anything your considering: The Daily Green.

Hope you are all having a great week!!

C.Q.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Meet Me On Monday

Michele is off with her hubby for an Anniversary trip this week. I asked her if I could answer the Meet Me On Monday questions for her. Moooo ha ha. I told her that I would try to behave, but no promises. Have a great Monday! -- Bernie from One Mixed Bag

Time to meet up with Java over at Never Growing Old for the Meet Me On Monday blog hop, one of the best things about a Monday.




Questions:

1. What feature of the opposite sex do you notice first?
Image Via
Cowboy butts drive her nuts! Who needs eyes or sense of humor?

2. Do you talk to yourself?
All the time. "Where did I put my glasses? What did I come in the kitchen for? Where are my car keys?" She starting to answer myself which is making me nervous.

3. What is your current relationship status?
She has been married for 25 years this year. The warranty to return Michele expired years ago. They work well and play well together. The picture was at my wedding. They dressed up in Renaissance garb.

4. Do you have a garden?

Michele has a big green thumb. This is a picture of her herb and bird garden. She loves to plant vegetables, herbs, flowers and so on. Everywhere you look on Michele's property has something growing. I have a black thumb, so I'm quite jealous.

5. What is your favorite licorice flavor?

I'm going to guess that its black licorice. There might be some freaky flavor that she knows about that she likes better. She likes the odd candies. So I'm sure this will be her favorite flavor. *gag*