8/15 Shopping

Aldi:

Cantaloupe $0.99

Peaches $0.29each x 4

Plums $0.29each x 3

Bananas $0.43/lb x 2.23lbs

Strawberries $0.99/lb x 2

Red Grapes 2lbs $1.98

Iceberg Lettuce $0.99

Applesauce $1.29

Ground Turkey $1.49/lb x 2

Total Spent: $13.33

CVS:

#1: Pampers Cruisers $19.99 get $3ECBS plus I had a $2.50 MC

The Magic Coupon Machine game me 2 awesome coupons; Free CVS Brand Fabric Bandages and a Free Hershey's Bar! Obviously, the chocolate didn't make it home. Honestly, it almost didn't make it to the car!

Total 1: $19.62 Savings of: $11.28 Plus got my $3 ECBS

#2 Dean's Milk $3.19 per gallon. CVS allows ECBs to be used on dairy!

Total: $0.22 plus I got $1 ECB!!

Meijer

Sweet Corn 4/$1

Oral B Stages $1.89 - $0.50MC

Oral B Toothbrush $1.89 - $0.50

Total $4.12

Walgreens:

Blue Rhino Propane Tank. If you exchange your old tank it is $18.99 then there is a $3 mail-in-rebate  making it $15.99. Not a bad deal.

Total with tax: $20.65

Homemade Blueberry Ice Cream

This summer Aldi sold a Crofton Ice Cream Maker for $19.99. It does not require rock salt. You freeze the insert and that's it. Once the insert is frozen you place it in the maker and then add your cold ingredients and 20-30 minutes later you have delicious ice cream.

I bought blueberries when they were $1.66/pint. My husband loves blueberries so, I bought 3. With them I made this ice cream and 2 batches of blueberry pancakes. I have never had blueberry ice cream. I found the recipe when I googled, "blueberry recipes." I had all the ingredients and it sounded awesome. It tastes just as good. If you have an ice cream maker you will definitely want to try this one!

2 cups whole blueberries, washed

1 cup sugar or splenda, etc

1 Tbsp water

2 cups heavy cream or half and half

Boil blueberries, sugar, and water until sugar is dissolved and berries are soft. I used a potato masher to smash the berries. Strain mixture over a bowl. Discard the skin and seeds that are in the strainer. Next, stir in the cream. Refrigerate mixture over night.

Fill ice cream maker 2/3 full and turn it on until mixture is thick.

Place in freezer for 2-4 hours before serving. This allows it to be firm.

Serve in a waffle cone or bowl and enjoy! It's the perfect remedy for a hot summer day!



Dry Erase Calendar

This is one of my favorite new things! I am striving little by little to have our family go paperless. The last project that I showed was the dry erase board found Here. I promised to follow up with this calendar. I followed the tutorial on Infarrantly Creative found Here. I love hers more! Mine is not magnetic, yet. I haven't found the metal for the right price. Total cost of this project $4!! Here's how I made mine;

16x20 picture frame bought at a garage sale for $4

Black Spray Paint for the frame

Cream-Colored Cardstock

Polka Dot Ribbon

For the grid I used our old calendar. I set the glass on top of it and used a black Sharpie to trace it. I added a 6th row of squares so I would never have to double the numbers on one square. Make sure when you put the glass in the frame that the Sharpie side is not facing out. It will wipe off.

An alternative would be to use vinyl instead.

I plan on making it magnetic and adding Magnetic numbers. I also want to change out the cardstock for some neutral fabric.

Another tip is to buy fine tip dry erase markers. They are much easier to read. I bought a multi-colored pack so, I can write Pay Day in green and Birthdays in Red, for example.

Now, go have some fun and make your own personal dry erase calendar for your family!

Under Construction

If you haven't noticed I've been making major changes to the blog. I am doing this myself through trial and error. Please be patient with me as I make these changes to make the site more organized. My OCD has kicked into overdrive!

If you click on the Kitchen tap it will take you to recipes that I have on this blog plus a list of great websites for recipes. I will be adding more pics above the links as I go. If you would like to submit any recipes to be featured please contact me at nestingmadesimple@gmail.com Hope you enjoy the new layout and that it's easier to navigate.

Have a great weekend!

Tabitha

Book Review: Might as Well Laugh About It Now

If you are looking for an upbeat, lighthearted, guaranteed to make you laugh out loud book, this is it. I found this at our public library. I like Marie Osmond and I was curious about the title so, I checked it out. One great thing about the library is, if you don't like the book you aren't out any money! Well, the title certainly delivered. I loved sharing the stories with my husband and also with, Mika, during our 5:30 am walks. It definitely gave us something to laugh about that early in the morning. I also learned the importance of a Sharpie as a necessity to a woman's cosmetic bag. If you want to know why you are just going to have to read the book. Some things you just have to read for yourself!

Enchiladas

My momma asked me for my recipe so, here it is;

1lb ground beef or chicken

onion

green pepper

Enchilada Sauce

Tortillas

Cheese, shredded

Brown your meat, onion, and pepper. Spoon it into a tortilla. Add a couple tablespoonfuls of the enchilada sauce. Roll it up and place it seam side down in your 9x13. Do this until your pan is full. Now, spoon the rest of the enchilada sauce over the tops of the tortillas. Top with shredded cheese. Now you can either bake it until the cheese melts and serve with sour cream or you can freeze them for later! Don't forget to line your 9x13 with foil if you are going to freeze them and they are great for a very easy clean up!

Garden Bounty

One great way to save money is by having a garden. This year we doubled the size of our's. We planted 2 types of tomatoes, zucchini, green peppers, lettuce, onions, peas, green beans, and corn. We have had great success. I love sitting down to dinner and enjoying fresh snapped beans, peas, or corn, along with a fresh salad with tomatoes all from our backyard.

Fresh picked lettuce

Lil man thinks they are leaves and that he is eating something forbidden which makes it more fun for him! Hey, if he'll eat it I don't care what he calls it.

Fresh green beans. They have done great this year! Can't wait to enjoy them from the freezer in the dead of winter.

Sweet Corn. If my husband had his way his garden would consist of sweet corn and zucchini only. So, far we have gotten a dozen ears. The squirrels have declared war on our sweet corn and have been stripping the stalks and breaking them in half. I'm waiting for my husband to camp out there in a lawn chair with his BB gun. Hasn't happened yet.