charleston craigslist find

table and chairs @ $60

i’m gonna paint the chairs and re-upolster the seats.

homemade spaghetti with meat sauce

one thing you should NEVER buy in a jar? SPAGHETTI SAUCE. ok, i have a couple jars in my cabinet, but i got them for almost free with coupons and i use them for pizza dips and last-minute homemade pizza.

It’s just SOOOOO easy to make. Lately I have been making more of a meat sauce than marinara per se. i’m not gonna give you an exact recipe because it’s easy to change it up depending on the ingredients available and moods.

I saute about half a green pepper diced with a splash of olive oil and a minced clove of garlic.(i grate mine on a microplane and i SWEAR i was doing that before Rachel Ray. I think she saw one of my blogs). Before the garlic burns add your ground beef. i used to use a pound and it was more of a thin tomato sauce, but since i’m digging a meaty sauce now i just about double it. So, lb and half or more of ground beef. Salt and pepper your meat as it cooks. Drain if greasy and then it’s time to add your tomatoes. This you can just play by ear. Last night I made a batch and I used a Large(28oz) can of whole tomatoes and pulsed them in a blender. Then I added 2(14oz) cans of petite diced tomatoes(left as is). I used to always add paste as well, but i’ve been leaving that out and I like it better. A splash of sugar helps too! Then I just leave it on low heat until its time to eat. Serve on angel hair or thin spaghetti which is what i grew up on. I might buy regular spaghetti just to be a rebel…

simple finds

I just did some quick research to make myself feel better about promoting Walmart, but they kinda let me down(shocking from walmart, i know). I was aware of their financial backing of gay rights and that made me feel a little better about shopping there, but according to sources they revoked all future donations because of complaints and threats of boycotts. Ugh….so, because i’ve of that, this will be my last post promoting any product i bought there….because i will NO LONGER SHOP THERE!

call me a hypocrite for even posting this, but i already cropped the picture. damage is done!

$9 shoes, $4.5 pants

neither look like much, but the pants are SUPER cute and cozy on. i am good at imagining things. and the shoes are made from 70% recycled products. My son, who has big/fat feet can only wear certain styles and these do great.

Saving on Food w/ Coupons…..Real Food

I have always managed to keep my grocery budget pretty low….at least compared to other’s. I just don’t buy a huge variety of things and I don’t keep junk food in the house(although i do manage to end up with it. magic?). BUT, lately I have been sucked into couponing. On rare occasions I buy what I wouldn’t typically buy, such as warm delight mini’s or totino’s pizza(ok, i do buy those), because it’s cheap, but I am surprised at what I can get that was already on my lists. 

Within the week I am going to break down the cost of a meal, but for now I am going to share some of my scores!

Bertolli Olive Oil(17oz)…………………………   $2.49(usually $6.99)

Pompeian Pure Olive Oil(16oz.)………………   $1.70(usually $5.39)

Fresh Express Salad Mix(12.oz)……………….  $0.29(usually $2.79)

GM Fiber One Cereal…………………………….   $1.39(usually $4.29)

Hunt’s Tomato’s(14.5oz can)………………….   $0.39(usually $1.39)

Swanson’s Broth(32oz.)…………………………   $0.29(usually $2.59)

Bumble Bee Light Tuna(5oz. pouch)……………  $0.50(usually $1.5o+)

___________

All* Free and Clear Detergent (32 loads)………$1.62(usually $5.24)

these expamples would typically @ full price total $23.44

I spent $8.67

I also get things such as rice, pasta, juice, cheese and yogurts for practically nothing….and don’t even get me started on drugstore robbery!

The best part in all of this is that I never step foot in a Walmart anymore. I get to shop at Publix, Bilo(gas perks), who double coupons 50/60 cents or less, and CVS.

It’s as simple as saving coupons, waiting for the products to go on sale and stocking up! You can find coupons online to print as well……

photography for sale

my husband has some work up at etsy.com for sale. we are hoping to help with my son’s schooling and speech therapy.

they are a great price! 

click here: RleePadgett.Etsy.Com

here are some more examples…there are several more including more instrument shots!

 

click here to view and purchase: RleePadgett.Etsy.Com

bathroom renovation

i am one of the millions trying to sell a house to no avail. i am going to lose money as it is, but i figure if my house looks a little better than the neighbors then atleast i will get it out of my hands first!

my first order of business is the bathroom and here is my plan:

here a little before and during:

now if i could just get up there to finish…ugh!

easy pasta

 with a life where my husband works nights and is never home for dinner and a child who only eats green things that are in pasta and are only peas or spinach, this is what dinner looks like quite a bit….

it’s never exactly the same and last night was special cause i had Boursin cheese!

i sauteed olive oil with roughly chopped garlic, added the pasta with frozen peas, kosher salt and then melted some Boursin in with it. YUM! i think some crushed red pepper would make it delish, but i have a 4 year old…

crab wontons w/ sweet and sour sauce

I am hoping to get a guest blog featuring eggrolls over at home-ec101.com, but in the meantime i’m gonna post about crab wonton’s here. i typically do them whenever i make eggrolls and USUALLY accompany them with dessert wontons and pineapple glaze. i am sick. so, you don’t get them. maybe next week.

these are very simple. buy wonton wrappers in the produce section. usually by the tofu…yeah, i don’t know where that is either….

the filling is a 6oz-ish can of crab meat. i’ve used fresh before too…i hate crab and don’t eat them, but i haven’t heard complaints on either choice. cream an 8oz cream cheese and add the crab. i’m sure there is some fancy seasoning you can add….again, i don’t eat seafood so i haven’t a clue and around these parts you can put poo in a wonton wrapper and fry it and people would fight over the last one!

i don’t recall fast food wontons being wrapped like this, but this is how i do it. it’s cute and i call it a blossom. dot all corners with some cornstarch paste(cornstarch and water until it makes a paste) and pull up opposite sides and squeeze. grab the other two sides and squeeze.

have fun with it. fry it in PEANUT OIL. i only had vegetable oil last night and they were too greasy for my liking. medium heat is good and keep an eye on them. they fry fast. drain on paper towel.

i serve it with homemade sweet and sour.

 

do you read?

i’m thinking about offering a free gift soon. let me know if you’re reading…

my son’s room

Brewer’s room: