Great deals today!

   

 Today I have gotten many great deals!  Great deals on TP, banannas, and mushrooms and pork tenderloin.  Our local Meijer had a one day sale and my Mom and I got there at 6:30this morning! I was able to get angel soft TP 50% off and then I used coupons on top of that!  Can you say cheap TP?  I picked up 8 lbs. of banannas at 39 cents a lb. Cannot wait to dry most of them.  We love to snack on bananna chips! Got a lb. of mushrooms for $2. Not the best deal but I love mushrooms so I got them.
  Then went to our local County Mkt/IGA and found sliced pork tenderloin for $1.39 per pound.  I bought 7 pkgs. Yummy!!
   My son was off of work today and asked me to go yard saling with him. I found an ugly lane cedar chest filled with dress up clothes and more--Just $5! I am going to paint the chest and add new legs to it.  Cannot beat the price especially considering the Disney princess costumes inside. My Grand baby will love them!!  I have also been looking for Barbie furniture for Jordy for the Barbie house her Mommy is making her for Christmas--it is outrageously expensive on E-bay. I found several pieces in a tub of toys.  I dug them out and asked how much and the guy said I could have them for $1 if I took the whole tub.  So I did. There were 12 TY beanies and 2 newer barbie dolls plus tons of play kitchen stuff!  All  for One Dollar!
  As some of you may know, I decorate cakes.  I have the basics but have not been able to afford some of the more expensive cake decorating toys like an airbrush(which requires a small air compressor).  Guess what I found at another yard sale!  Thats right....a nice aircompressor and an airbrush!!! Only $20 Dollars and the lady gave me the airbrush colors as well.  Score!!!
  At that same yard sale, I bought a 3 piece patio bar set.  Just $20!!!! So I had my brother go pick it up for me. Such a bargain!  I'll post picks when I get everything cleaned up!

So, all in all, I had a great day shopping on the cheap. Have you found any great yard sale bargains?

Blessings,
Lisa

Drying more of your pantry stash!

   Recently there have been very severe storms here and we have lost power several times.  This has had me thinking that I have most of my food storage in freezers.  Freezers that run on electricity.  Freezers full of food that could be lost in an extended power outage. So, I decided to try to dry more food so that in an emergency we wouldn't lose as much of our stash.  I realize the dehydrator takes electric to dry the food but the freezer costs much more to store your foods.

   So, for the last few weeks I have been putting my dehydrator to good use.  I have been trying to empty out my freezers a bit to make room for meats and I had several bags of frozen peas and carrots Did you know you can dry frozen peas and carrots?   It's awesome!  No prep work needed!  Perfect for busy moms!  Drying them is the easiest thing in the world--just let them thaw and then place them on your dehydrator racks and dry on 135 degrees for 6 or so hours.    When they have cooled down, just  put in glass jars to store.  See, I told you, easy peasy!  When they go on sale at the super market. do not freeze them--dry them!!

 

Peas and carrots almost done!

I also picked up some mushrooms reduced at the market.

This is 2 small containers of sliced mushrooms.  Easy peasy as well--no prep required!

I sliced a pound of shortcut carrots I found on sale--this is what they shrunk down to!


   Drying your foods is a great way to preserve your stash.  Now it can be done with no prep needed at all.  It's a win -win! Saves time and money!

Blessings,
Lisa

 



What I've been up to lately!

Hello all,
   It's been a busy time here in our household. All four of my children were born in July, August and September so we party all summer long! In addition to my childrens B-day dinners, I have been getting way more orders for cakes.  In a way that is good--making more money, but it is stressful and takes time away from my Hubby and kids.  I have to admit, I am having fun making the cakes but as I said it is stressful!   
                              Here are the latest cakes:

                                                  This was for my Grandaughter's Birthday!

                         

                                                                    Grad cakes

                                                        Rorie's Birthday cake!

                                                  Kaitlin's Sweet 16 Cake and cupcakes!

                                                        Leah's Cake!  Love Zebra cakes!!!

                                                       Hulk cake!

                                         I made 4 of these for the local high school reunion!!!

 I have several more cakes in the next few weeks so I will post some more pics then!


Hope everyone is enjoying a great summer!

Blessings,
Lisa