Making Your Own Wedding Flowers

A good friend of mine got married last weekend. She and her fiance are on their way to dental school, so being poor college students, they needed to keep their wedding budget in check. Her sister made the wedding cake (she is a fabulous cake decorator; something I am jealous of.). A family friend took the wedding photos. Her mom used her digital camera and a photoshop program
to create darling wedding invitations. She bought her dress on the clearance rack and had it altered ; creating the dress of her dreams, for a fraction of the cost. Her reception was in a friend's backyard so they could take advantage of the summer flowers (and minimize the need for decorations), and friends and family helped prepare and serve refreshments (beverage dispensers, tablecloths, and serving trays were also borrowed from friends and family). That left the flowers. As many of you know, professionally designed flowers are uber expensive, and can be a budget breaker. So, I offered to do her flowers as my gift to her!

I have been making corsages for Child #1's dance dates this past year, and I figured if I can make corsages, boutonnieres and bouquets can't be much harder. After watching a tutorial on creating bouquets, I was off and running! With wedding magazine in hand (and a few color swatches) I hit the flower displays at the local groceries stores (where I live it is Albertson's and Fred Meyer's). These displays are treasure troves for inexpensive bulk flowers. I bought the rest of the supplies at Joann's Fabrics, but any craft store carries the necessary items. After an afternoon of sweat shopping, my masterpieces were done!

The boutonnieres (the groom's is in the center):

The Mother's corsages:

The Maid of Honor's bouquet:


The Bridal Bouquet:



Important things to remember:

• Keep your flowers as fresh as possible by keeping them in a bucket of water in the fridge until you are ready to use them.
  
• After making your bouquets cauterize the ends of the stems with a barbecue lighter (just place the flame on the end of the stems until it turns a light brown). This will keep the stems from oozing on the dresses.
• Refrigerate the flower arrangements loosely covered (empty deli and bakery containers work great for this) until you are ready to use them to keep them as fresh as possible.
• If it is a big project enlist some help. Any project is much more fun if you have someone to shoot the breeze with while you are doing it.
  
• Don't be afraid to try. I have zero professional decorating skills (and I have never taken a flower arranging class). I just simply googled how to instructions on the internet and found pictures on line or in magazines.

Ridley's (Associated Food) Deals 6/30- 7/5

Check out this week's Ridley's deals! Here are a few things worth stocking up on for the holiday weekend.

10 pound package (80% lean) ground beef patties $16.47
Corn on the cob 4 ears for $1.00
Kraft (18 oz) Barbecue sauce $.92 each
Lay's potato chips $1.87 each
Meadow Gold (18 count) popsicles $1.19 each
Gold'n Plump chicken thighs or drumsticks 3 for $10 ($.95 a pound)
Bar S franks $.59 each
Green seedless grape $.99 pound
Seeded watermelon 5 pounds for $1.00
W.F. 2 pound brick medium cheddar cheese $3.99 each
Bar S bologna $.99 each
Big Buy (16 oz) bacon $1.49 each
W.F. (16 oz) sour cream $.88 each
W.F. dozen large eggs $.94 each
W.F. (6 oz) assorted yogurt 10 for $4.00
Jet Puff marshmallows $.99 each
W.F. pork and beans $.49 each
Shasta (3 liter) soda $.94 each
Capri Sun or Kool aid (10 count) pouch drinks $1.59 each
Tomatoes $.59 pound
Cantaloupe $.29 pound
Hass avocados 3 for $.99
Red or green bell peppers 2 for $1.00
Bone in spiral cut ham $1.49 pound

Bountiful Basket Update

Don't forget that if you live in Idaho, Wyoming, or Utah log in time to order a Bountiful Basket is 8:00p.m. (Mountain Standard Time), 9:00 pm if you live in Texas! Also, my friend who helped start Bountiful Baskets here in Pocatello reminded me how important volunteers are to the success of the co-op! If you are a participant you are expected to volunteer at least every 3 months. To volunteer just show up at your designated site one hour before pick up time. The more volunteers there are on Saturday morning; the easier and quicker the site can function! Oh, and as an added bonus, if you volunteer you get to pick one extra produce item as a bonus, and who doesn't love free food!

P.S. If you do not pick up your basket it is donated to charity (and you will still be required to pay for it), but you are not banned. I apologize for the misinformation (I got it off the Bountiful Basket website, but several other B.B. participants let me know that is incorrect. Thank goodness!!!).

Homemade "Bagel Bite" Pizza

Child #4 came home the other day and asked me why he isn't like the other kid's in the neighborhood. That took me back for a moment, because the last time I checked he was whooping and hollering and carrying on in the middle of the cul de sac just like the rest of them. When I asked him what he meant (bracing myself for tears and a tale of woe); he simply stated......the other kid's have these cool little frozen pizzas made on bagels! Well, that dilemma I could easily fix (no I did not run to Costco to buy our own ginormous box of bagel bite pizzas). I started digging through the pantry and fridge and came up with the ingredients to make our own (healthier and cheaper) version!

I grabbed a bag of shredded mozarella cheese, some Pizza Quick (but you could whip up your own and have on hand in the fridge), a bag of pepperoni, and a bag of Bagel Thins:

I bought these Bagel Thins at Costco (24 count for $6.29). They are one of my new favorite products. The kids have gone crazy for these! They are so versatile, smear them with flavored cream cheese for breakfast, use them for sandwiches, spread with butter, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and broil in the oven; or....bagel pizza! Each one is 100 calories and (don't tell the kids) have 4 grams of fiber (they think I'm the Fiber Nazi, and so they are leery of anything new I try pushing on them)!




Spread the bagel with pizza sauce, sprinkle with cheese, and add your favorite topping.

I cooked them on our Pizza Pizzazz (a Christmas gift from long ago; that as you can tell by the pan has been well used!).


If you don't have one bake at 400 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes; until the cheese has melted and is bubbly.


These were so easy to make Child #4 (who is eight) assembled his own! If you want to make a low calorie (high fiber) grown up version replace the Bagel Thins with Whole Wheat Sandwich thins(also purchase at Costco 24 count for $6.29) each one is 100 calories, 5 grams of fiber, 5 grams of protien, and 16 usuable carbs.


Add veggies instead of pepperoni (or use turkey pepperoni) and use reduced fat mozarella cheese.

You can make up a large batch of these (do not bake), place them on wax paper lined cookie sheets, and freeze in the freezer. When they are frozen wrap in foil or carefully stack in a gallon sized plastic freezer bag. To cook frozen bagel pizzas:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees
• Unwrap bagel pizza (if wrapped in plastic or foil)
• Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet
• Bake for 15 - 18 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly

Now we are just as cool as the "Jones' "...... at least in Child #4's mind we are!

Bountiful Baskets Co-op 101

I have had several friends recently ask me about Bountiful Baskets. I always love sharing about my latest frugal finds, so I have been singing it's praises far and wide. So, when Sakrina at Saving Cents asked me to explain a little bit about it, I was thrilled!

Basically, Bountiful Baskets is a non for profit produce co-op based out of Arizona. They have contracted with small farms all over the Southwestern United States and Mexico to buy fresh produce directly. The co-op provides produce to sites in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and because they buy their fruits and vegetables in very large quantities they have a buying power that allows them to purchase the produce at wholesale. This allows them to provide the service at such a reasonable price. A basket of 50% fruit and50% vegetables is $15.00 ($25.00 for an organic basket)!

On Monday or Tuesday (depending on which state you live in) at a specified time (which are available on their website) the offerings for the week are posted. Each week, in addition to the basic basket, they sometimes offer side items. Generally, 9 Grain bread is offered each week, but they have also offered granola, bulk quantities of carrots, strawberries, and peaches, snack bars, tortillas, Italian vegetables and herbs, and Mexican vegetables and herbs. Side items change weekly. If you log on to the site you can view the weeks offerings.

To purchase a basket you need to:

• Go to Bountiful Basket's website and log on at your state's specified time.
• Click on your state's icon located on the home page.
  
• Select the location site where you want to pick up your basket.
  
• Select how many baskets you wish to purchase (you can order up to three). Fair warning though, you will get a lot of produce in just one basket (to get an idea of what is included in an average basket click here)!
• Select any sides you want to purchase.
• When you have finished making your selections, go to checkout to pay and receive your confirmation number.
  
• You must pay for your basket with a Visa or Mastercard (you will be charged a $1.50 handling fee each week when you purchase your basket).
• Print off your receipt.
  

The first time you visit the site to purchase a basket, you will be required to create an account and password. You will also be required to pay a(one time) $3.00 fee to join the co-op at checkout. Only a certain number of baskets are available at each site. When all of the baskets at each site have been purchased that site will disappear from the list of locations. Baskets are picked up at the location you selected on Saturday at the time posted next to the location. Don't worry, you receive an email from the B.B. teams reminding of your location.

Important info. you need to know if you want to participate:

• If you want a certain location log on and a purchase your basket as soon as it is your state's turn.
• You need to bring the printed copy of your receipt with you to pick up your basket.
• Bring your own "basket" to take your produce home. I recommend a large laundry basket, or several large reusable grocery bags. Something with handles works best.
• Show up on time to pick up your basket.
• If you can't pick it up yourself, send someone to get it for you. If you don't pick it up it is donated to charity (at your expense) and you are banned from participating forever.
• Dress for the weather. Most locations are outside and you will have to wait in line for a few minutes.
  
• Make sure to pick up all of your items. Side items are located at a second table.
  

Here is an idea of the price for items that have been offered since I started participating in B.B.:

• Basic basket $15.00
• Basic organic basket $25.00
• 9 Grain Bread (5 loaves for $10.00)
• 7 dozen tortillas (3 dozen large flour, 2 dozen small flour, 2 dozen small white corn) $10.00
• Mexican pack $7.50
• Italian pack $7.50
• Tropical granola $10.00
• 30 cranberry bars $10.00
  
• A flat of strawberries $6.00
• 24 pound box of peaches $12.50
• Ciabatta bread (5 loaves) $10.00
  

I have to admit I was skeptical when I first heard about Bountiful Baskets, but after participating several times I was very impressed. All of the produce I have gotten has been very fresh. It has lasted much longer than the produce I have bought at the grocery store. The price can't be beat; if you bought the same amount of produce at the grocery store (even on sale) it would cost two or three times as much. You do not get to pick what is in each week's basket, but I have never been disappointed. There is usually one or two out of season items included (a.k.a. mini watermelon in February, and oranges and clementines in June). I have to say that it is kind of a kick in the pants to see what's in your basket each week and decide how to incorporate it into the weekly menu! I am hooked on the 9 grain bread and tortillas! Both are made without preservatives (which means they can be frozen and they will maintain there quality). I have been trying to incorporate healthier bread options at my house and these have allowed my to do so without breaking the bank.

If you live in Pocatello, Idaho there are currently four locations available:

• Holt Arena parking lot
  
• Westwood Mall parking lot
• Wilk's Funeral Home parking lot
  
• a private home in Chubbuck(sorry, I can't remember the address)
  

Bountiful Baskets is entirely voluntary! To keep costs down they rely on volunteers to run the sites each Saturday. People are needed to portion out baskets, break down boxes, run the check in tables, and direct participants. To volunteer show up at your site one hour before pick up time. If you have questions you can go to the website. There are links that answers questions, explains how to start a B.B. site in your area, and explains co-op policies.

Ridley's (Associated Food) Deals 6/22- 6/29

Here's Ridley's great deals for the week. Don't forget to start watching the grocery store ads for good deals on condiments, paper plates, soda, and other picnic items. This time of the year they are usually loss leader specials, and you can stock up for cheap! I just used the last jar of BBQ sauce that I got for $.25 last year (I bought 24 jars)! Anyway, check out these deals:

• Powerade (32 oz), assorted flavors $.45 each (this is a great deal if you have athletes in the family)
• 12 pack Pepsi products 4 for $5.00
• Doritos, assorted varieties $1.88 each
• Pasta Luigi (16 oz) assorted varieties pasta $.84 each
• Land of Frost (10 oz) shaved deli lunch meat, assorted varieties, $1.98 each
• Farr's (4 quart) pails of ice cream $3.98 each
• W.F. (18 count) large eggs 2 for $3.00
• Seedless watermelon 4 pounds for $1.00
• Cluster tomatoes $.99 pound
• Dole bags spinach (9 oz) or greener selection salad (12 oz) $.99 each

Happy Shopping this week!

Go To Meals

I was browsing the Pinching Your Pennies blog tonight, and came across a great post on easy go to meals! I am the first to admit that menu planning is not my strongest attribute. When I come home tired from work, dreaming up a gourmet dinner is rarely on the top of my To Do List! More often than not it leads to a quick trip to the Dollar Menu at the closest fast food restaurant, or take and bake pizza. While, both those options rate very high on my children's favorite dinners; it ends up being fairly expensive (especially if you are feeding six hungry mouths) and not all that nutritious.
That is probably why I spend so much time searching other people's blogs for fabulous recipes! Anyway, go check out this great post; it has some really great ideas that you can pull together easily!!

This Week's Bountiful Basket

The last few weeks have been crazy (I guess Summer is just like that), but I am back on track!
This morning I picked up my Bountiful Basket. I didn't realize how much I missed it! This week's offerings were wonderful. This week we got(for the bargain price of $15.00):

• Two large head of leaf lettuce
• 1 cantaloupe
• 1 bunch of broccoli
• 1 bag red grapes (about 3 pounds)
• 1 bag bing cherries (about 3 pounds)
• six bananas
• 20 plums
• 2 avocados
• 4 tomatoes
• 10 peaches
• paper sack full of string beans
  
• 1 pound bag of baby carrots

They have added a new site in Chubbuck. It is located in the Wilk's Funeral Home parking lot, and pickup is at 8:00 a.m. They have also added new locations in other areas, so be sure to check the Bountiful Basket blog site Monday night!

Great Kid Friendly Recipes

If you are looking for something to do to keep the kids entertained (especially if you are in the middle of the coldest, wettest, summer break EVER!) go check out Jamie Cooks It Up! She has had some fun summertime, kid friendly recipes this week! I'm loving her recipe for Foil Dinners that uses chicken instead of ground beef. Her Frozen Banana Pops look like they are to die for! Bananas and chocolate are favorites at my house. I can't wait to see what see has in store next!
So pull out the bowls and measuring spoons for some edible entertainment!

Ridley's (Associated Foods) Deals 6/15 - 6/21

Looks like there are a few good deals this week at Ridley's. Happy shopping!

Fritos or Cheetos 3 bags for $5.00
Farr's Ice Cream $3.88 each
2 liters of Shasta soda (assorted varieties) $.64 each
W.F. (8 pack) hamburger or hot dog buns $.72 each
Cantaloupe $.48 pound
Red seedless grapes $.99 pound
Cucumbers 3 for $1.00
Green peppers 2 for $1.00
Limes 10 for $1.00
W.F. dozen large eggs $.99 each
W.F. (16 oz) sour cream $.88 each

Don't forget Harper's Homemade Bread (all varieties) are still 4 for $5.00!

Yellowstone National Park

This post doesn't share any fabulous frugal tips for traveling, but I just wanted to share some of the highlights of our family trip to Yellowstone National Park last weekend. This was quite an event, considering the last time we took an actual family trip that required a hotel stay Child #4 was 5 months old! Most of our family fun consists of day trips, fishing, and camping (which is frugal), but Child #1 is seventeen and on the verge of being a Senior and Dear Hubby and I realized our time to spend making memories with him are dwindling. Therefore, we dipped into the slush fund, threw caution to the wind (literally), and spent some time making memories with our kids!

Here we are in the gift shop at the Bear and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, Montana (forgive Child #3's taste in wardrobe; he's going through his Hill Billy phase):


We saw Buffalo about 5 miles into the park! It was amazing! They were just laying on the sides of the road. This one was so close to the Suburban that I could have reached my hand out of the car window and touched it (but I didn't).


There were also a ton of baby Buffalo, as well! Only a face a mother could love, in my opinion!


We also saw elk. Which, made Dear Hubby (a.k.a. The Great White Hunter) very, very excited!


Our next stop was Old Faithful. I wish we would have spent more time exploring here, but it was 38 degrees and over cast. Needless to say, convincing the troops to take a hike did not happen.


The troops much preferred playing Tic Tac Toe in the Snow Lodge gift shop instead!




I did convince them to go inside Old Faithful Lodge (which is the oldest log built structure in the United States) to take a look! You can see all five stories to the roof from the center of the lobby!


The troops were just appeasing me, of course. They know I have a "thing" for old architecture (here they are on the second floor balcony).


We also tried to picnic at the rest area by the Lodge, but it was so cold outside that we froze out. My fingers started turning purple and going numb while I was slapping sandwiches together, so
we finished our meal in the Suburban! After lunch, the troops decided to take a little siesta (I think they were really in a Root Beer, Oreo, M&M coma), but it was gloriously quiet (something that is rarely achieved in a car full of cold, wet children) and I wasn't about to complain (plus moods improved greatly after a little shut eye).



We couldn't resist going to see Yellowstone Lake. Can you believe there is still snow in the mountains?


In fact, there was still snow in the parking lot of the Yellowstone Lake Visitors Center! The troops wanted to have a snow ball fight, but I put my foot down on that suggestion!


On the way home we drove past the Grand Teton mountains. They were quite a sight to behold!



We also stopped in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for dinner (Bubba's BBQ here we come!!!), but we took a minute to take a picture of the antler arch at the entrance of the town square. Jackson Hole is right next to the National Elk refuge, so they have a constant supply of replacement parts!


It was definitely a fun, entertaining, fabulous (and exhausting) weekend!

Softening Corn Tortillas

Sorry, I didn't spend a lot of time blogging last week, but our family took a little trip to Yellowstone National Park (which, I will post more about later). I'm trying to recuperate from spending several days stuck in the car with 4 children (5, if you count Dear Hubby)! As I was planning out this week's menu (using this week's Bountiful Basket items; which included more corn tortillas), I remember this handy tip for softening corn tortillas without using oil (Dear Hubby and I are both trying to shed a few pounds). My family loves soft tacos and enchiladas, and corn tortillas are a healthier option than white flour tortillas, but they are very difficult to handle straight out of the fridge. I was taught that you soften them by frying in hot oil for a few seconds (very yummy, and very fattening!). After some experimenting, I have discovered that if you lay 2 - 3 tortillas on a paper plate, cover them with another paper plate, and microwave them for 20 - 30 seconds in the microwave the steam created between the paper plates softens the tortillas enough to make them easy to roll up. Another bonus is that there is not a greasy mess to clean up either!

Ridley's (Associated Food) Deals 6/8 - 6/14

There weren't a whole lot of great deals in the Ridley's ad this week. I guess some weeks are just like that!

W.F. (5 oz) Albacore tuna $.94 each
W.F. (12 count) regular or sugar ice cream cones $.99 each
White Satin (2 pound) bags brown or powdered sugar $.94 each (this is a stellar deal and worth stocking up on!)
Fritos or Cheetos 3 bags for $5.00
Cantaloupe $.59 pound
Kiwi fruit 4 for $1.00
Cucumbers 2 for $1.00

Happy Shopping!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I have to tell you I am a country girl at heart. That is saying a lot, considering I was born and raised a city girl. In my world meat came from the grocery store. My only experience with gardening was being sent to Grandma's house to weed (and occasionally glean) the garden. It wasn't until I married a country boy (who had come to the city to work and attend school) that I gained an appreciation. It was quite an education to realize that you can grow and hunt your own meat, and that vegetables don't miraculously sprout on their own. It has taken a few years (and I'm still not all that crazy about wild game....shh! Don't tell my husband), but I love being able to grow and can my own vegetables.

When we bought our first house, we planted our first real garden. It was huge; mainly because the yard was lacking in lawn, and growing a garden on half the lot was cheaper than covering it in sod. We had also drained our savings purchasing our (very little) house of dreams, and growing our food was much more economical than buying it. Unfortunately, as our little brood increased we quickly out grew our starter home. Dear Hubby and I decided to buy a house that our family could grow up in close to schools, and work. Our house has fit the bill, except for the yard(it is not very big). It has made gardening a little more challenging.

I have learned that you have to use all available space:



I am lousy at growing flowers (I kill them), so I planted tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries in my flower beds. I also have discovered that even though landscaping fabric is not the most frugal option it is definitely my friend (and it can be rolled up at the end of the season and be saved to use the next year).


In areas of the garden where the plants won't fill in and choke out the weeds; black landscaper's fabric cuts down on the weeding, big time! Roll it out, and stake it down or hold it down with pieces of wood or landscaping pavers (which I got at a discount at the Home Improvement store, because they were chipped). If you notice the white plastic pipe and sprinkler heads along the fence; Dear Hubby rigged a sprinkler system to easily water the garden.



Cut out holes where you want to plant your veggies. Pots help keeps the plastic blowing away in the wind, and they are great for planting herbs in.


Pieces of fence stretched between fence posts make great trellis' for beans, winter squash, cucumbers, and melons. Anything that vines can be trellised. Two years ago I trellised banana squash, and I had an 18 pound squash that hung off the fence with out falling off. It was amazing!!! If your accident prone or have kids (that would be me on both counts) cut a slit in old tennis balls and place over the tops of the fence posts to protect against potential accidents.





As you have probably noticed the garden runs along the backyard fence. To utilized my garden space I use the Square Foot Gardening method in areas where I want to grow smaller plants, like carrots, beets, spinach, onions, and lettuce. The landscaping pavers divide out the areas I have planted, and giving me some place to stand when I am weeding or gleaning the garden( they also act as a weed barrier). Our main garden space is 5 feet x 175 feet. I am able to grow enough produce in it to feed my family, the neighbors, and can enough to tide us over in the winter. This year I have planted: tomatoes, green peppers, jalapeno peppers, yellow summer squash, zucchini squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, cucumbers, green beans, broccoli, beets, carrots, onions, spinach, leaf lettuce, basil, parsley, dill, and basil.

Stretching Fabric Softener

I promise I did not fall off the face of the earth! It has just been a busy (insane) week. Child #1 decided he was Johnny Rambo while paint balling with his friends (it was their way of celebrating the last day of school). He ran up a gravel incline, and jumped over the top, not realizing it was a small cliff on the other side. Being a genius 17 year old, he used his right arm to catch himself. He is now the proud owner of a cast and sling!!!!!! The garden has turned into quite a project, too. I have had to plant between rain storms, so it is still a work in progress!

Now on to the real subject.......Fabric Softener! I really like using liquid fabric softener, but it is kind of expensive. So, I have been experimenting with ways to make it last longer. After much trial and error (and Dear Hubby complaining about static y underwear), I have discovered that if you mix it half softener and half distilled white vinegar it works just as well, and lasts twice as long. Vinegar has anti static properties; I tried using it all by itself, but the clothes still came static y. The vinegar smell dissipates in the dryer, so the clothes just come out soft, static free, and smelling springtime fresh!!

Ridley's (Associated Foods) Deals 6/1 - 6/7

Looks like there are quite a few good deals at Ridley's this week! It is definitely worth stocking up on a few things for summer!

White Satin (5 pound) bags of sugar $1.98 each
White Satin (25 pound) bag of sugar $9.99 (limit 2)
This is a great deal on sugar, so stock up for summer jam making and canning!
Roma tomatoes $.69 pound
Yellow onions $.69 pound (a very good price on onions right now)
Leaf or Romaine lettuce $.79 each
Spinach bunches $.99 each
Medium avocados 2 for $1.00
Seeded watermelons 4 pounds for $1.00
Pictsweet (14-16 oz) select varieties frozen vegetables $.79 each
W.F (15 oz) assorted varieties of diced tomatoes $.48 each
W.F.(48 oz) spaghetti or elbow macaroni 2 for $5.00 ($.84 pound)
Kellogg's (Corn Pops, Froot Loop, Apple Jack, Mini Wheat) cereal $1.49 each (first 4)
Keebler cookies (select varieties) $1.58 each (first 4)
W.F. (2 pound) bags shredded cheese $4.99 each
W.F. (1 pound) package butter $1.87 each
W.F. (16 oz) container cottage cheese $.99 each
W.F. (24 oz) container sour cream $1.19 each
W.F. 1 dozen large eggs $.77 each (great price for eggs)
W.F. (6 0z) assorted varieties of yogurt $.29 each
Big Buy (16 oz) packages bacon $1.49 each
80% lean ground beef $1.59 pound
Boneless, skinless chicken breast $1.59 pound (sold in 20 pound box for $29.80)
W.F. (96 oz) bleach $1.09 each
VO5 (15 oz) select varieties shampoo $.84 each

Happy shopping!