Gearing up for Graduation

My youngest is graduating from High School this week.  Today is my last day for work and then I will spend the rest of week preparing for the graduation celebration.  Graduation is Friday evening with an all night senior party to follow, so my husband and I decided to have a big bar-be-que and party on Saturday.
I let my daughter pick out what she wanted for the special occasion, and here go's

Chicken and Shrimp shisk ka bobs (w/pineapple, onions, peppers, and some with mushrooms and some with out) I will marinate these in some Yoshida's Hawaiian sauce that I picked up in the close-out bin.

Potato Salad~ I asked my friend to make this

Pasta Salad~ I asked my other friend to make this

Fruit plate~ I asked yet another friend to make this

Cheese and cracker plate~ I decided to make this too (I sure love my friends though)

Chips, Crackers and various dips~ I have been picking up odds and ends for the last 3 weeks, utilizing my coupons and the clearance bins at the store.

Chocolate Cake~ got this at Costco

Chocolate Fountain~ this belongs to my husband's cousin and this is going to be sinfully yummy.

Soft drinks, and bottled water (and probably coffee too) Coke was on sale last weekend buy 2, get 3 free, so I stocked up.... I got the water on sale a couple of weeks ago a case for 1.99 .

We picked up some decorations at the dollar store, and will have some balloons.  I will post pictures as soon as the event takes place and hopefully goes without a hitch.  Congratulations to the class of 2011!!!

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!

Hearty Chicken Pot Pie

This recipe was on the Bisquick website under emergency meals..... This would be a great dish to make when short on time....... Dinner in 30 Minutes...  Prep time is about 15 Mins.  You totally know that the left overs are going for my lunch.

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day !!!!!!!




Hearty Chicken Pot Pie







Nothing warms you like hearty chicken pot pie. This one’s loaded with vegetables and has a tender, flaky crust made with Bisquick® mix.



Prep Time

15 Minutes



Total Time

45

Minutes



Makes

6 servings



1 package (16 ounces) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed



1 cup cut-up cooked chicken



1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup



1 cup Original Bisquick® mix



1/2 cup milk



1 egg





1.Heat oven to 400ºF. Mix vegetables, chicken and soup in ungreased 2-quart casserole.



2.Stir remaining ingredients in small bowl with fork until blended. Pour into casserole.



3.Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown.



Makes 6 servings

Frugal Consignment

I finally did it!!!!  I have been cleaning out my closet for years and sending it all to Goodwill.  I have been shopping at a particular consignment store for a couple of years now.  At first they did not take consignments, I am not sure if they were just not taking them or not taking them on my particular days off.  Anyway I continued shopping there and talking to the girls that work there.  About a month ago they relocated to a bigger store and started excepting consignments, So...... I cleaned out my closet.  I am super excited to get the opportunity to sell some of my cast offs.  I think it is super important to take clothes in there to consign that you would buy yourself.  My problem is mostly the weight gain since I stopped smoking.  (This is another story~ but I am doing really good)
My plan is to either take the money and put it in my savings account, or to exchange the money for stylish clothes in a bit bigger size.  Either way it is a win win situation.

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!

Free Exercise

Skip the gym membership....  put that 50.00 per month in your savings account and head outdoors.  You will get some fresh air and also lower your blood pressure. 
30 minutes for a brisk walk, ride your bike, or put on a pair of skates or do some hiking. Do your own yard work to burn additional calories.  If it happens to be raining or the weather is bad... put on your favorite CD and dance around your living room.  I have Yoga and Pilates on DVD for bad weather days.  Also, a vigorous house cleaning will burn calories.
There are creative and fun ways to exercise without the expense of gym membership.
What do you do for fun and exercise that is free or cheap???

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!!

Frugal and Beneficial Rosemary Tea

I found this wonderful home remedy for dandruff over at ThriftCultureNow.  Hopefully the weather will be getting better and not so dry here in Oregon....  but I am totally going to give this a try.

Natural Remedies for Dandruff: Rosemary Tea


Apr 29, 2011 05:00 am

I probably should have written about natural remedies for dandruff back in the dead of winter when everyone’s skin and scalps were dry, but a family member’s recent raving about rosemary tea as a home cure for dandruff prompted me to write this post now. When it comes to health and frugal living prevention is key, so at least those who are afflicted by dandruff each year can start to treat their scalps ahead of time and hopefully prevent the itchy, dry condition altogether.

All you need to do to make this natural cure is to steep dried rosemary (about 1 tbsp) in about 2 cups of water. Simmer the rosemary and water on the stove until it becomes dark in colour. Wash your hair normally and then follow by massaging the tea into your scalp. Leave the rosemary tea to work for about 5 minutes and then rinse.

Repeat these steps for the next few days and be sure to massage the tea right into the scalp. Just think: you can forget buying that bright blue, anti-dandruff shampoo and remedy the problem with something as simple as rosemary. Aren’t natural remedies great?

Frugal Living Enthusiasts Take Note:

*We hope you enjoyed learning about this week’s Thrifty Blogger, Wojo, and his site, Fiscal Fizzle. Bookmark this valuable personal finance and frugal living blog and rest easy knowing that you’re well prepared for any of life’s hiccups.


Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!

Oh Hail

We had a hellacious hail storm today.....  I am currently working the graveyard shift and the hail beating on the tin roof of the shed is how I woke up today.  My dogs barked and freaked out thinking someone was trying to "get me" while I was sleeping.  So so funny, they ran to the back door and just barked and barked and looked around...  They kept hearing the hail but were unsure where to run to and bark...  it really was hilarious watching them.  They were so confused. 
Today made me very glad that I do not have my tomatoes planted yet.  The hail would have shredded them. 

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

I am heading off to a pot luck birthday party today and this is the dish that I am making to take.  This is a delicious recipe and it is easy to make, it is always a big hit, and the left overs (if there happens to be any) are just as good....  Every time I make this, I end up wishing I would have made more..........
This is a fabulous gourmet pasta salad, that is absolutely better than anything you can get at the deli, and not to mention much cheaper




2 chicken breasts ~ grilled (I grill mine on my George Foreman)

1 pkg Bow Tie Pasta~ cooked according to package directions

1 small bunch of Romaine Lettuce... (you can use pre-washed and bagged lettuce but I personally think it is a waste of money). Wash the lettuce and tear it up into bite size pieces.

1 bottle of your favorite Caesar Salad dressing.

Grated Parmesan Cheese



Grill and season your chicken breasts to your liking, and let them cool. Cut them up into bite size pieces Cook your pasta and drain, rinse in cool water, and add these ingredients in a fairly large bowl along with your bite size pieces of Romaine lettuce, mix in at least 1/2 the bottle of salad dressing, and toss all ingredients until just moist... You can definitely use more dressing if it seems to dry. Then sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese on top.... and enjoy. If the salad seems dry the next day add more dressing or a bit of mayonnaise. You can also use french dressing if you would like another variation.



Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!!