Menu Plan Monday

Okay, the Thanksgiving leftovers are gone and it's time to look to a couple of spicy flavored dishes this week. Is it just me or does anyone else start craving spicy or saucy or cheesy dishes after Thanksgivings turkey? I love turkey but, it is such a mild flavor. I am only posting a half week menu because Thursday I will be heading out of town for our "Girls shopping Trip" and Troy and the little pricess will be winging it! LOL Troy is a good cook so I have no doubt they will eat just fine while I am gone.

Monday
Diann's Lasagna Casserole (Hope to post the recipe on Tuesday)

Tuesday
Mustard Marinated Steak & Baked Potatoes

Wednesday
Grilled Ham, Cheese and Tomato Sandwiches & French Fries

Rest of the week......Out with the Girls which means lots of normally forbidden food...aka: lots of snacky things!




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Prest-o Chang-o Cake Stand!

We have all discovered pretty and fun alternatives to making our own cake stands. I love the variety that we can come up with by just using the different items we have on hand. But sometimes it's fun to "sparkle it up". So, I played around and came up with some quick, easy and inexpensive ideas.

Here is all you need:



~Your "lift stand"...I am using a white vase (.50 cents at the thrift store)
~your plate...I got this square one at the Dollar Store.
sticky back Velcro
~scissors
~some "bling"...I am using Dollar store white Christmas garland beads. I am also make with different beads and crystals to change the look when I want.
~Hot Glue Gun
~Sequins (or whatever flat little surface)

Since I am using the package of sticky back velcro that I have which is squarea and dots, I decided how many dangles I wanted and cut the squares into four small pieces (both sides) to the right amount.



Cut the dangles that you want and and hot glue a sequin to the end of each individual dangle. This gives you a flat surface to attach a piece of velcro to.



Decide where you want to hang them from on the backside of your plate. The fist time I did this, I placed it velcro to close to the edge and you could see it. So, make sure you place further towards the center of the plate. Peel off the back and stick your little squares on the plate and then attach the other side of the velcro squares to each of the sequins that are attached to your dangles.Then add them to the plate.



By using the velcro, your options are unlimited! You could use beads/crystals to match your table or just create a fun look. Add ribbons or Christmas ornaments. The point is, you don't have to have a ton of different cake plates for a bunch of different looks. Who has that kind of room! And you don't have to spend a lot of money. Use the items you have!

I used it for our Thanksgiving Dinner. You can see other pictures HERE!



I'm linking up to these great blogs:



Monday:

Metamorphisis Monday at "Between Naps on the Porch"

It's so Very Creative at "It's So Very Cheri"

Make Your Monday at Twice Remembered

Blue Monday

Hi everyone and Happy Blue Monday! Join me and everyone else joining Sally for Blue Monday at her blog, Smiling Sally!

Back on this Blue Monday, I posted about the pretty blue and white teacup and saucer I found for $2.99 at a thrift store. A few weeks ago when I was browsing through an antique mall, I was so excited to find a large dinnerplate and two dessert plates in the same design for $3.00 for all three pieces! Of course I snatched them up immediately! Here they are.....



I thought I would check some online sites and see if I could gather enough pieces of this pretty china to make two complete setting. Well, nobody on Ebay had any and I came up empty at several other places so, I checked Replacements, Inc.. They had them! Woohoo! Oh, wait! Holy Toledo Batman! Look at those prices!

Let's see, I paid a total of $5.99 for the 5 pieces I have. For those same 5 pieces, I would have to pay:

Dinner plate...............$11.99
(2) Salad Plates...........$27.98 ($13.99 each)
Cup and Saucer.............$11.99

Grand Total................$51.96 (not including tax and S & H!)

I think I will just keep browsing around and maybe I will spot a few more pieces here and there!

Have a great day!

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CVS & Walgreens Matchups for week 11/29

For the best coupon and matchups for this week at CVS and Walgreens, head over and check out Felicia's Blog!
Now, scoot on over and check out her CVS post at Go Graham Go!

And her Walgreens post HERE!

While you are there, you are going to be absolutely thrilled to see all the AWESOME giveaways she has going on! Seriously, she is totally rockin' the giveaways!!

Here are a list of Felicia's giveaways:

Mr. Potato Head & I-Dog Puppy {12/12}
$100 GC to Borders: 2 Winners {12/10}(Borders)
Whiplash Scooter {12/10}
Walmart $30 Gift Cards, 2 Winners {12/9}
Nerf Wall 2 Wall Basketball {12/8}
Holgate Wooden Toys {12/7}
Tom's of Maine Natural Silly Strawberry Toothpaste: 5 winners! {12/6}
Evenflo Triumph Advance Car Seat {12/5}
Norwex "Green" Cleaning Products {12/4}
Hello Hanna Place Mats {12/2}(check out Hello Hanna)
Madeline Specialty Doll {12/1}(go check out kids preffered)
Bibalicious Handmade Bib {12/1}
Lily Me Jewelry {11/30}

I told you! AWESOME! Can you see some great Christmas gifts you could win?! I do! And I am heading over to sign up for all of them!! If you want to check them out for yourself, go HERE!




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Some Good Coupons from Couponsurfer

** Save $1.50 on any package of Keebler Wheatables Crackers (8.5 oz. or Larger) at your favorite grocery store
http://www.couponsurfer.com/ons_show.cfm?id=45286&ons=78264229


** Save $1 on any two packages of Maxwell House Coffee (10.5 oz. or larger) at your favorite grocery store
http://www.couponsurfer.com/ons_show.cfm?id=40988&ons=78264229


** Save $1.50 on your Favorite Store Brand Coffee when you purchase any 3 Kellogg's Cereals (10 ounce or larger)
http://www.couponsurfer.com/ons_show.cfm?id=37344&ons=78264229

** Save at least 75 cents on any Duncan Hines Whole Grain Muffin Mix at your Favorite Supermarket
http://www.couponsurfer.com/ons_show.cfm?id=33664&ons=78264229






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Aldi's Special Purchases for this coming week

Medion 12-MP
Crystal Digital Camera

$ 89.99 each *

Medion
8 GB USB Drive

$ 14.99 each *

6.5" Glittered Poinsettia
or Tri-Color Centerpiece

$ 5.99 each *


Huntington
Gourmet Gift Set

$ 8.99 per set *

Benner
Holiday Tea Tin Gift Set

$ 7.99 per set *

Beaumont
Hot Beverage Gift Set

$ 8.99 per set *


Beaumont Hot Cocoa
Mug and Tin Gift Set

$ 7.99 per set *

Beaumont Coffee
Travel Mug Gift Set

$ 8.99 per set *

Beaumont
Bag Coffee Assortment

$ 3.99 each *


Festive Cookie Mixes

$ 3.99 each *

Clancy’s
Popcorn Tins

$ 4.49 each *

Westinghouse
Christmas Solar Lights

$ 2.99 each *


Pembrook
Christmas Roll Gift Wrap

$ 1.49 each *

Publications International
Puzzle and Sound Books

$ 6.99 each *

Burrylane
Men’s Woven Sleep Pants

$ 5.99 each *


Burrylane
Ladies’ Long Sleeve Tees

$ 5.99 each *

Grandessa Signature
Pork Crown Roast

$ 3.99 per lb. *

Grandessa Signature
Traditional Lamb Shanks

$ 9.99 each *


Grandessa Signature
Puff Pastry

$ 2.99 each *

Kirkwood Safari Adventure
Chicken Nuggets

$ 3.99 each *

Kirkwood
Coconut Chicken Tenders

$ 3.99 each *


Sea Queen
Shrimp Variety Pack

$ 6.99 each *

Clancy’s
Cosmic Sky Mix

$ 1.69 each *

Priano
Ricotta Cheese

$ 1.59 each *


Priano
Italian Cheese Wedges

$ 2.99 each *

BelGioioso
Mascarpone Cheese

$ 2.49 each *

edenVale Fontina,
Gouda or Edam Cheese

$ 2.99 each *


Belmont Candy Cane
or French Silk Pie

$ 5.29 each *

Baker’s Treat
Holiday Sugar Cookies

$ 1.99 each *

Buehler’s
Holiday Cookie Dough

$ 1.99 each *


Buehler’s
Cookie Dough Tub

$ 3.99 each *

Baker's Corner
Peanut Butter Baking Chips

$ 1.29 each *

Baker's Corner
Gourmet Baking Chunks

$ 1.99 each *


Baker's Corner
Baking Chocolate

$ 1.99 each *

Baker's Corner White
Almond or Chocolate Bark

$ 1.89 each *

Baker's Corner Chocolate
Cookie Pie Crust

$ 1.49 each *


Baker's Corner
Gourmet Brownie Mixes

$ 1.79 each *

Baker's Corner
4-in-1 Sprinkle Jar

$ 2.99 each *

Andes Crème de Menthe
Baking Chips

$ 1.99 each *


Blackberry Fields
Fruit Syrup

$ 2.49 each *


Crofton
Electric Fireplace Heater

$ 79.99 each *

Burrylane
Ladies’ Flannel Sleep Pants

$ 5.99 each *

Christengel
Gluhwein

$ 4.99 each *


O’Donnells
Liqueur Gift Pack

$ 8.99 each *





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Sunday Favorites

Hi everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Today is "Sunday Favorites" over at my friend and Fab Hostess Chari's blog, Happy to Design. Make sure you stop by and say hi and check out all the revisted posts being shown today!

I originally posted this back on April 21, 2009. Just some thrifty uses for coffee filters. Enjoy!

Today is all about the multi-use coffee filter. Even if you are not a coffee drinker, coffee filters are cheap and you get a ton of them. Look at what uses they can serve. Do you have any uses to add to this list? Please leave a comment and share them with us!:

1.) Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2.) Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they’ll leave windows sparkling.

3.) Protect China - Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.

4.) Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

5.) Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

6.) Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

7.) Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

8.) Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

9.) Absorb Grease - Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc. on them. Soaks out all the grease.

10.) Make little "treat bags" for party's or showers. Put candy/nuts in, pull together and tie with a ribbon.

11.) When making baskets or boxes of homemade goodies, separate the different cookies or candies buy using a coffee filter.

12.) Instant little snack bowls for picnics or parties.

13.) I line my cup holders in my truck with them for all those to go drinks that "sweat" and puddle in the holder.

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Thanksgiving Table

I didn't prep my Thanksgiving table ahead of time so, it was done today and I didn't get to link it up on Thursday for Tablescaping Thursday. However, I am going back to link it up today. LOL So,check out all the other awesome tablescapes at "Between Naps on the Back Porch"



I am also linking up with Cindy at "My Romantic Home" for Show and Tell Friday. I have a lot of pieces I used for this tablescape that were thrifty finds. I am also included pictures of our dinner and desserts.

WARNING.....There is a LOT of pictures. LOL

Here are pictures of the table settings and centerpiece basically finished. This is before food is added to the table obviously. LOL

I didn't want a huge centerpiece. I like to look at my Hubby while we talk over dinner.
The centerpiece is an old mirror bought at Salvation Army to be redone at some point for $1.49
The 4 wooden carved balls were bought at Family Dollar for $1.00 each! I love them and very excited to find them at Family Dollar. I bought them back in the Spring. I have 2 antique amber glass candlesticks and a crystal candlestick with a small metal dish attached to it and crystals dangling off it. I love this piece. I bought it at Salvation Army for $1.29. And then just an Autumn bush cut apart and tucked in.
The two crystal candlestickes on both ends of the centerpiece were bought at a flea market for $3.00 for the pair. It was the end of the day and a lot of the booths were selling all their items at 50% off. That is pretty much when I do most of my buying. LOL


How the table was put together..the "layering"

Oops, should have taken the tablecloth out of the package sooner and let the wrinkles fall out or iron it. Oh well, there will be plenty of food on the table, it won't really be noticable. I got this tablecloth last winter and forgot about it. LOL. I bought it clearanced at Walmart.

I just bought this table runner at Big Lots for $3.00. It was 50% off.

I got a set of 4 of these maple leaf placemats at Goodwill for $2.50 (for 4).
These Gold Chargers were purchased in a box of 4 for $5.00.
I have entire setting for 4 of these white dishes. I got the entire set for $4.50 at Salvation Army last year.

This "Mocha Glass" dessert/salad plates bought at Walmart for $1.00 each. These are everyday Walmart dishes that they sell all the time.
The bowls are an antique mall find. There was only 3 of this set and apparently nobody will buy "3" bowls....well, except me. I got all three for $1.50! They are Ironstone made by J & G Meakin (England) called Royal Staffordshire "Windsong".
The sunflower dishes were bought a couple of weeks ago at Cracker Barrel at 40% off. We used them as our "relish" bowls.
I have had these napkins for awhile now (clearanced at Walmart). The napkin rings are beaded bracelets from the dollar store. And my silverware is Oneida "Distinction Deluxe". I have 2 complete sets (plus all the accessories) for about 25 years. And then my grandma got 2 more sets for us as a wedding gift 10 years ago.
The glasses are: Tumblers by Jennifer Ferrell Collection. Bought at Big Lots recently for .90 cents a glass. The amber wine glasses were bought at an antique mall for $1.50 each. The Cut Crystal goblets I got a set of 8 of them about 30 years ago (they came in a velvet lined box) in exchange for babysitting for a guy who was a salesman for a China company. See, even at age 15 I was thrifty! LOL


Some upclose of the centerpiece.




Now for the Food!

Okay, just for the record, I do not like nor do I eat or cook yams...bleck! So, Troy kinda got caught up in doing something else so, the marshmallows got a little over done.


Do you like my little "butter dishes"? I used the dollar store pumpkin votive dishes.
I bought this water pitcher at Home Goods store a couple of years ago for $2.00
I love my little tureen. Tou can't tell by the picture but the color of the design is a dark green. I got it at an antique mall. We used is as a gravy tureen tonight.
I just bought this creamy yellow dish at Home Goods a few days ago. I love this whole set but, it is a little too expensive for me right now to buy. However, you can see a small chip on the rim so I got it for $3.00!!

I used a couple of my carnival glass pieces.



And Desserts......

I got this large glass candle holder/hurricane thing at an antiques store. They had 2 of them and this one was marked $2.00 the other one was $25.00. Someone had knocked the candle over inside it and it broke the glass. But, the break was clean and they glued it back together. You can't notice it from this angle.
I filled it with some raffia covered pumpkins and cut apart floral bushes. The pumpkins and bushes were 50% off at Michaels

Ready for pies!









Dishes are cleared from the table, first load of dishes are in the dishwasher, food has all been packaged up and put in the fridge, our tummies are settled down and ready for coffee and pie!







Wow! If you made it all the way through all these 100's of pictures, I am super impressed!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are so blessed and so grateful for all that we have.

Oh, and on a side note, I said a thank you for the invention of zip lock bags and dishwashers!!


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