The Dessert Buffet!

As many of you know, my DS#1 got married in September. I promised to show you pics of my contribution to the wedding so here they are!  

The happy couple!

The Dessert Buffet!

The Wedding Cake!  If you look closely at the back bottom of the brides dress is a cat.  They love their kitties!

Sandwich cookies on top right made by Brides Mother!  Decorated sugar cookies were made by my cousin Christina,!  Thanks for all of the help!

Cookies by Christina's Creations!

Well, what do you think?  I am so happy with how it turned out!

Blessings,
Lisa

Last Week's Frugality

   Last week I saved money by using my Kroger points to save $.30 per gallon of gas. Saved $3 on a tank!


  Bought 2-2lb. bags of  pinto and 2-2lb. bags of northern beans on sale for $1 each!  Yeah 8lbs. of dried beans for just $.50 per pound!  Great additions to my stash!


  Bought 3 boxes of corn flakes for $1 per box. Bought 9 lbs. of apples $1.50 per 3 lb. bag. Guess what I am going to be making this week!  Apple Butter!


  Picked up 5 blocks of cream cheese for $1 each.  I will need lots of this for the holidays!


   Stuffing mixes were only $1 so I got 6 for my stash and for Thanksgiving. Powdered sugar was $1.00 for a 2lb. bag. Since I bake, I bought 10 of these.  Large jars of dill slices were $1 so I bought one of those. All in all I found some great deals at our local County Market! My stash is looking better and better!

  We were able to open the windows this week and just use the fans. The light Nazi has been keeping lights off as much as possible. :)  I hope our electric bill reflects our commitment to reducing our bill!


   I made a birthday cake for a lady at work. That $30 will help out with this weeks budget!


  I stayed way under my goodwill budget of $5. I only spent $ .85 on our last visit!


  All in all it was a pretty fugal week.  We tried to stay home as much as possible and combine trips if we had to go out.


  My daughter is getting married next year so saving money is a priority now!  We committed to paying for the food and drinks for the wedding so we are going to have our work cut out for us.
No vacation again next year!  Oh well, we will survive; We are starting to get good at it!


Blessings,
Lisa








 

Quote of the Week

        This week's quote is inspired by my son's upcoming wedding! Best Wishes Michael and Tessa!

The real act of marriage takes place in the heart, not in the ballroom or church or synagogue. It's a choice you make - not just on your wedding day, but over and over again - and that choice is reflected in the way you treat your husband or wife.  
                                                                                          --Barbara de Angelis

Blissful Blessings,
Lisa


P.S.  Wedding pics to come!!

My Portion of the Wedding Duties!

 

My son and his fiancé.

 Some of you may know my DS #1 is getting married on September 17th. As the Mother of the Groom, I don't have a ton to do but this is what I am responsible for:  The Rehearsal Dinner and the Wedding cake and dessert table at the reception. 
    That may not seem like much but it is a lot when you are trying to DIY to save money.  The rehearsal dinner will not be catered.  I am cooking!The menu will consist of:   Vegetable Lasagna, meat lasagna, fettuccini alfredo with grilled chicken, tossed salad, everything bread and butter, Caprese salad, assorted olives, a vegetable tray and fruit tray -both with dip, cake and cheesecake for dessert.


   The kids opted to just have the rehearsal dinner in the church basement to keep things simple.  There is a lovely kitchen at my disposal there so I am not worrying too much! Plus, I have recruited my daughters and son-in-law to help me that Friday!  Love that I can depend on my family!!!


   I have been dreaming of the dessert buffet for months now!  My cousin Christina has volunteered to help me with it!  Here is what we have planned:   Wedding cake of course, a carrot cake, apple pie, peach pie, raspberry tartlets with white chocolate. lemon tartlets with fresh raspberries, Apple pie filled cupcakes, iced sugar cookies in the shape of sunflowers, Oreo truffles, buckeyes, and a small chocolate fountain with strawberries, marshmallows, pretzels and cookies to dip in the chocolate.  Oh and I cannot forget the brides choice--mini cherry cheesecakes!  Yes, that is all and yes, I took over a weeks vacation in order to get it all done! 


    I do not know what I would do without Christina's help!  We have both been looking so forward to creating a yummy, beautiful dessert buffet!  Lots of work but mmm ,mmm, good!


I cannot wait to show you the pics after the wedding!  Wish me luck!


Sweet Blessings,
Lisa

Quote of the Week

                                           You cannot have a positive life and a negative mind.

                                                          -Joyce Meyer 

Last Week's Frugality

  Last week was not a no spend week.  I had budgeted for the food stuffs for my son's rehearsal dinner. It was as frugal a week as it could be though!  I went on the Kroger website and looked for coupons for foodstuffs I needed for the dinner. I also printed some coupons online.  I found coupons for meatballs, spaghetti sauce, alfredo sauce, and grilled chicken strips--all things I needed.  By perusing and clipping coupons, I saved over $15 on those items at Kroger!   I did the same at Meijer and saved $10 on more stuff for the dinner. 
  While on the MeijerMadness.com website I saw a deal for free Almay Deodorant.  I was able to print 3 coupons for $5.00 off any two Almay products.  The deodorant was on sale for $2.39 each. I was able to get 6 tubes of deodorant for FREE!  I haven't scored like this since double coupons went away!!  All in all this past week I saved over $80 with coupons!!! I made sure they all were things we needed, usually used. or needed for the dinner.  I think I impressed my DH!  Heck, I impressed myself!! 
   I used Kroger gas points to save 30 cents per gallon.  Almost a $3.00 savings! 
  I made a small wedding cake for a dear friends son's wedding.  I told her it was my gift for him.  When she and her DH picked it up, she gave me a thank you card with a visa gift card in it! It was so not necessary, but very much appreciated! Thanks Susan!
  My Mom invited us for supper one night. We really enjoyed the veggie soup!  Thanks Mom!
   I am still tending to my violets, basil, philodendrons, and other plants,  They are looking pretty good! 
   DH saved 2 more 2 liter bottles of water for our emergency stash.  He has been doing a great job for us!
 That is about it for me last week!  What did you save money on?

Frugal blessings,
Lisa
  
  

Fresh Herb Taste All Year Long!

   

 One of the best ways to ensure that fresh herb taste all year long is to freeze your chopped fresh herbs in oil. You need to use light oils such as canola or light olive oil for best results.  Just place fresh herbs in your food processor and add choice of oil.  Pulse a few times and pour into an ice cube tray.  Freeze overnight and place herb cubes in a ziplock bag, label and store in the freezer. So easy and you will have that fresh herb flavor all year round! 

Herbal Blessings,

Lisa

Quote of the Week

     No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
                                                                           - Aesop

Lst Week's Frugality

  Last week we ate out of the pantry and freezer exclusively! In addition to that, we were given a bunch of tomatoes from my Uncle Howard!  Thanks so much!  My BFF Sandie gave us some produce when we went to dinner last Sunday!  Thanks Sandie!  Their generosity has sure helped us make it the last few weeks!

  We stretched a small spiral sliced ham into 6 meals.  Fried ham for supper 2 nights and one breakfast, ham bits in a pot of northern beans, and I used the ham bone and what was left on it for a pot of green beans, ham and potatoes that we ate on for 2 meals.  

 I only drove to work this week!  We stayed home! No special trips--stopped at the pharmacy on my way home one evening.  My Mother went to her class reunion  Saturday, so I saved $3 that I normally allotted for the Goodwill!

  I saved Marigold seeds from the tall and the dwarf marigolds!  I hope to have tons of free flowers next Spring!  The coneflower seeds will be ready to save soon!

    We are Still turning the A/C units off at night and when we are not in the living room, dining room and kitchen.  Every bit is helping to keep the electric bill down! 

 My DH saved more 2 liters of water for emergencies!  I am so proud of him!  He is not a big prepper, but he is being very helpful!
It is nice to work together!

Propagating rosemary, oregano, and ivy!

   Kudos also to DH for enduring our enforced pantry challenge!  He hasn't complained about some of my less than stellar casseroles I have come up with and has eaten PB and J sandwiches without a word!  He has been a trooper!

  I have still been tending to my violets, Christmas cacti and herb plants.  I feel like they are an investment for Christmas Gifts!  I am propagating rosemary and oregano also for future gifts.   I was given a start of ivy and am in hopes of using this for a topiary!
  
   Several months ago, I bought a small philodendron for $3.84 at Walmart.  I have been taking cuttings from it and have 2 other pots of philodendrons growing and more rooting. They will make nice gifts for a housewarming or birthday!

  That's about it for us!  What did you save money on last week?

Frugal Blessings,
Lisa
  

My Cupcake Dress Shower Cake!

My Future DIL's bridal shower was last month, but I wanted to share  the cupcake dress cake I made for it!  I thought it turned out very nice!  They are getting married in September and I am doing the Dessert Table!  More pics to come!

Lisa