Another Blog

I've decided to start another blog that focuses on my love of cooking, couponing and keeping the home. Please join me for my adventures at Cookin' And Savin' With Amy

Channeling June Cleaver

When I woke up this morning I thought it was going to be a horrible day. I had a terrible sore throat and according to hubby, I tossed and turned all night long, (sorry baby!) and it was cold and rainy out. But by the time Em was off to school, my Advil had kicked in and I had downed half a cup of hot tea and was feeling better.

That's when it happened. I was checking out Aunt Ruthie's Sugar Pie Farmhouse and between her blogging and the 40s music that plays on her site, June Cleaver entered my home thru me!!!

I donned my favorite new pink floral apron from Aunt Dorothy and found an online 40s radio station and began making French Toast to get into the freezer for Em's Thursday morning breakfasts. (Thursdays are pancake/waffle/french toast day here at the Sandage house.) I got one and a half loaves of Texas toast converted to French Toast. That's enough to feed her for quite some time as long as we can keep daddy out of it. Doesn't look YUMMY! Too bad it isn't Weight Watcher friendly...4 points per slice!!!!!!! OUCH!


After the French Toast was in the freezer and the mess cleaned up and kitchen sink was shiny,

I set out to iron Delmar's work shirts. Not usually one of my favorite jobs but today it made me happy to do it. He's gotten several new shirts lately and they aren't wrinkle resistant but do come out nicely when ironed so I've decided that's what needs to be done and I'm ok with it.

I've been working this week on our bedroom per Flylady's Flight Plan for the week. Spending 15 minutes a day decluttering. I've gotten rid of 2 kitchen trash bags of clothes that I haven't wore in ages as well as some twin sheet sets. (I don't think we need 5 sets when we only have one twin bed in the house LOL) Now it is hubby's turn but he's been busy this week. I would do his myself but I'm afraid I will get rid of something that he loves.

Time to scoot, hubby just got home from his Kingdom Soldiers group I'm gonna go check and see how his day was.

Here's just something to make you smile. He's in my kitchen window and when the breeze blows in, his head bobbles all over. Just too cute!!!

Lovin' My Aprons & My New Washer & Dryer :o)

Back in July last year, I made a comment that I love the apron that I received from Delmar's mom and would love to have more of them. Now let me say, I'm not really sure how many people actually read this blog because comments are rarely left, it's more of a journal for me. But I'm happy to say that I now know that my Aunt Dorothy does read my blog. I know this because she sent to me not one but TWO vintage aprons. One is red with a fish pocket and the other is a floral print with pink pockets that have buttons on them. I love them both and they are a wonderful addition to my collection. THANK YOU SO MUCH AUNT DOROTHY!!!!!!!!! Here is a picture of them all hanging in the laundry room just outside the kitchen.


I'm also happy to report that when I now do laundry, the whole neighborhood can't hear. My new front loading washer and dryer are so quiet I forget they are running! Aren't they pretty???


I've got lots more to post about but no time to do it just now but I'll be back soon!

July in a nutshell

WARNING, THIS POST IS INCREDIBLY LONG AND FULL OF PICTURES-Proceed at your own risk... :O)

This summer has flown by and I can't believe that school starts this Friday (albeit, only a 3 hour day??) Anyway, since the posting has been sporadic at best, I thought a jumbo post covering July would catch us up a bit. Here goes............

The first week of July ushered in a new experience for Emily. Our local YMCA hosts a day camp called Camp Osage and Emily LOVED it! We went on vacation so early this year that I was worried Emily would have a long BORING summer at home. But never fear, Y Camp is here!!! She has learned how to fish, play lots of new games, learned several new songs, seen many friends from school and met lots of new friends. Here she is on her first day and a picture with Delaney, her friend from down the street.

Here is a song that she learned entitled, "God Bless My Underwear". Just in case you can't understand here are the words (to the tune of God Bless America):

God bless my underwear

My only pair

Thru the washer

Thru the dryer

On the clothesline

In the air

Oh, God bless my underwear

My only pair......

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Repeat until it drives your parents CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!! Actually, this time was hysterical. She was just belting it out in the shower one night after camp. Cracked me up!!!

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July also brought the first fruits from my garden, go figure, it was zucchini.And who doesn't need a little more mulch on their garden in the heat of summer? Certainly not I. And our neighbor, Emily's best friend Don, was willing to share his grass clippings with us and Emily helped him out with the rake.Still keeping with the garden theme,I am proud to say that I learned how to can. My dad's friend Mel gave me a rather large bag of green beans that I used as my "guinea pig". Back in June, I had told my step-dad Bob that I wanted him to teach me how to can as my birthday gift. So he came over one day while Emily was at camp (mom came with him to keep an eye on my little ones that I babysit) and I had my first (and only) lesson. Here are some pictures from the experience.

Beans before:
Necessary tools:
Me and my teacher. Final results, MMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These jars sat on my counter all afternoon and evening and every time I walked by I just smiled and felt so proud that I had provided food for my family. And it was all free! The jars came from Freecycle. I was also blessed with a pressure canner as well as some other items needed. And I was presented with the Ball Blue Book for Canning and Preserving by my teacher. THERE'S NO STOPPIN' ME NOW!!!

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THE CHICKEN BORDER COMES DOWN!!!

From the day that we moved into our home, I've not particularly cared for the border in my laundry room. After all, what to chickens/roosters have to do with laundry??? Anyway, one day I got a wild hair and started pulling it down.

Before:
During:

After:

The aprons are mine and Emily's cooking aprons. Delmar's mom gave me the black and white checked one and I love it! I would like to get some other vintage ones. The pink one has a ladybug on it and Emily loves to wear it when we cook. As you can also see, I still haven't decided what color I'm going to paint the doors.

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Relay for Life

Most of you know that I've been participating in Relay for Life since my sister Lori was diagnosed with Kidney cancer in 2002. My first one was in 2003 and I've been doing it every year since, making this my seventh year WOW! Our team is now sponsored by our church and we had a great night this year. The weather was beautiful but cold. But, I'd much rather it be cold than hot.

This year our camp had a hippy/Woodstock/Age of Aquarius feel to it. Here is a picture of our mascots. (Thanks David, Delmar & Gene for keeping us laughing well into the night!)

What is a night being up until dawn without a little food?Kids lap (Emily is in the orange shirt right in the middle of the pic):Me and my man. Stay away ladies...he's all mine!! :o)One of the chiropractors in town was selling massages (all proceeds went to the Relay). Pat tried it out first and convinced MANY on our team that it was awesome and it was!What???? Mike is asleep and SNORING??? No way!

Each year they make a banner of hand prints of survivors. This banner is from 2003, Lori's hand print is the pink one and it overlaps our dad's (the upside down one). I take a picture of it every year.

What a great end to Relay week, the stargazer lillies that I planted in my garden in memory of Lori bloomed! I honestly didn't think they were going to this year but one day, there they were! These were Lori's favorite flower and were in all the bouquets that Mike would send her.

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Our final adventure in July was tent camping at Weldon Springs. We were invited by our neighbor Jenny to join her and some of her family and friends. What a weekend! Friday night was great but Saturday it rained almost all day. We didn't care, we stood around under umbrellas around the fire and at one point gave up on the umbrellas and sat at a picnic table in the rain playing Scrabble. Fortunately, the Scrabble game was mostly wood and plastic!!!

Here is princess Jenny in her castle. Not too bad considering she started Friday with a ridiculously small tent with a queen sized mattress in it. She was movin' on up!!!

Lilly trying to learn to ride a 2 wheeler:

Rise and shine Emily and Kyla:

Here I am helping Sal make breakfast. This covered screen room would have been a great idea BEFORE it rained. Here are a group of campers putting it up and you can't tell but it is pouring!! HA!UHHH...Delmar....Emily....everyone else is up!!

I pray that you all had a blessed summer. While it has gone incredibly fast, Emily and I are both excited that school is starting in a few days. She has already met her teacher and we've heard that she is great!

Rainy days and Mondays...

can be made better with tomato soup, tamales for hubby and I and a grilled cheese for Em. YUMMO!!!!!:o)

This was my gourmet dinner after a day of tackling Mt. Washmore, paying bills, getting the house back in order from the weekend and canning my first batch of green beans solo. Aren't they pretty???

Between the rainy evening and Y camp, Emily was exhausted and said she wasn't feeling well. I hope she isn't coming down with something!! This is how she spent most of her evening.
Hope you all weathered the storms without any damage.

Goodnight all,

My new books came!

I ordered 2 books from Half.com last week and now they are both in. While I am still finishing up the Left Behind series, I still need to locate the sequel and prequels. I am starting to read Home Comforts (see my sidebar) and just got in the mail today, Mary Hunt's "Debt-Proof The Holidays-How to have an All-Cash Christmas". I'm quite excited about both books and will now be torn as to how to split my reading time. :o)

Have a blessed day,

DUDE!!!

I soooo feel like this woman some days......then I'm reminded why I do it! :smile: This one is going on my sidebar so I can be reminded everyday!

Have a blessed day,

Menu Planning/Kitchen Work

I've been working this week on getting food into the freezer and planning menus. Since Delmar was gone over the 4th weekend shooting fireworks in Southern IL, Emily and I decided to make him a special dinner last night. I loaded up 4 kids and off to IGA we went to by steaks. This was miraculous two-fold. First of all, many of you know that I don't travel too much with the babysitting kids, it just makes me nervous and secondly, I rarely buy steaks and NEVER full price... It was indeed a special day! With the steaks, I made cheesy tater tots with onions and peppers and fresh green beans - from my garden :o) - made with soy sauce, olive oil and fresh garlic. YUMMO!

I have also been freezing blueberries. Last week Kroger had them for $1.25 a pint!!! I bought 16 pints and have frozen 12 of them to enjoy later this summer and this winter. MMMMM, a cup of coffee with a homemade blueberry muffin.....sorry, I got lost there for a moment! The rest we have been nibbling on here and there.

Also, when we came back from Florida on vacation (yes, it was over a month ago), we stopped in Georgia and bought a 25 lb. bag of Vidalia onions that we split with the Shews. (I'm sure that Sharon has had hers in the freezer for weeks but I am just getting to mine.)

The time you save by chopping all at once is amazing! I've been doing this with green peppers for a couple of years now and it's so nice to be able to just grab a baggie of chopped veggies and just throw it in whatever you are making. It's also a good way to take advantage of the discounted produce at the store. Our Save-a-Lot almost always has packages of bell peppers that are on the edge, maybe with a spot or something on them. Usually they are packaged in 4's for around a $1.00 and are a mix of green, red, yellow and orange. I'll buy these, cut out the bad spot and chop, slice and chunk them for different recipes that I work with.

While working on my onions this morning, I've also prepped my onions for tonights dinner and now just have to work on the potatoes.

Gotta head for now, about time to get the kids ready for Lunch Time Bible Club!

Have a blessed day,

CVS & Walgreens Deals 4/12-4/18

OK, so I had no intention of going to do my coupon deals this week. There really wasn't much going on. UNTIL, I read the iheartcvs.com blog entry about the Purex coupons. This week at CVS, Purex was B1G1 free. The entry had a link to a B1G1 free coupon making BOTH bottles free except for the tax-which was $2.62 for all 10 bottles!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then, Wags had Colgate toothbrushes for $3.29 with a $3.50 RR and I had a $1 coupon for each one also making them a moneymaker. I used the RRs to turn around and buy some boxes of the individual drink mixes that you put in bottles of water for Emily's lunches. She loves them but I just can't share my Crystal Light White Grape flavor! I know-bad mom!

Here is the rundown:

10 32-load bottles of Purex
7 boxes of drink mixes
5 Colgate toothbrushes
1 Physicians Formula moisturizer

I paid $10.63 out of pocket BUT ended up with $7.00 in Wags RR and will submit a $10 rebate in for the moisturizer. Some of the purchase was made with my Wags gift card from rebates from last month. So I will end up MAKING $6.37 after my rebate goes back on my Wags gift card at the end of the month AND I have enough laundry soap to last the rest of the year.

Have a blessed day,