Five Frugal Things

First I need to apologize that y'all got the weekend book reviews on a Wednesday.  For some reason my laptop likes to adjust the date when I schedule a post.  I was in a rush and did not notice before I clicked "publish".  Now on to the frugal doings for this past week....


1.  I discovered that I can pay our electric bill online.  This saves a stamp and nets me a few reward points on the credit card. 


2.  I made a stack of notecards and colorful envelopes using supplies I already had on hand. 


3.  I found milk marked down to $1.25 per gallon.  I got four gallons to put in the freezer.  This particular brand of milk freezes well so I am stocked up for the next month.


4.  I am co-hosting the church Easter egg hunt this coming weekend with my mom.  She does the food, and I do the eggs.  I used eggs bought on clearance last year as well as some that were gifted to us.  I had bought some fillers from Oriental Trading and used some candy from my own pantry. 


5.  The rabbits continue to eat greens from the garden.  I have been feeding the chickens the clover and other weeds I pull from the garden. 

Weekend Book Reviews

Love Welcome Serve by Amy Nelson Hannon is subtitled Recipes that Gather and Give.  The focus of the book is easy Southern recipes that allow you to minister to others through food.  Be warned that this is a serious Southern cookbook meaning it is not a health food book.  When people are hurting or need a pick me up, they do not want diet food though.  I found several Southern favorites (broccoli salad) as well as some new recipes (fajita guacamole burgers).  I also appreciate that the author encourages readers to simply cook for others rather than focus on making everything Pinterest/Instagram perfect.   

Vicki Delany's third book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series is The Cat of the Baskervilles.  I have read the previous books.  While it is not necessary to enjoy this book, I highly recommend it.  Gemma is the owner of a Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and co-owner of Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room with her friend Jayne.  The town of West London is preparing for the theater festival and the arrival of Sir Nigel who will star in The Hound of the Baskervilles.  Unfortunately Sir Nigel's best years are behind him both in his acting and his people skills.  Sir Nigel goes missing following a tea fundraiser and is later found dead at the bottom of a cliff.  Is is suicide or murder?  Gemma intends to find out.  I absolutely adore this series and am happy with how the character of Gemma is evolving.  This series gets better and better with each installment!

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekly Goals Update: Week 12

1.  Disaster Preparedness
Week 12 was financial preparedness.  We have savings account set aside with our "Life Happens" money.  If you own stuff, that stuff will break.  It is easier to handle if money is already set aside.  I have been looking for little ways to save and reminding myself that the things I already do are worth it.


2.  Makeover the Garden
Toby and I cleaned out one raised bed that I will plant lettuce in.  W fashioned a brace over the top using materials we already had on hand.  This will allow the lettuce to grow up but keep the chickens from eating it.  We also started filling up one of the new raised beds.


3.  Organize Recipes
I worked on the garden, yard, and other things this past week.  This will be waiting for me when the weather is too hot to do much else.


4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
I stocked up on quite a few things this past week:  coffee, W's fruit cups, and some Subscribe & Save items from Amazon.  I will be shopping again this week, but we have already completed three of these which is a nice start.


5.  Focus on Saving
I have decided to focus on our electricity usage.  Our electric co-op now has a daily usage chart.  I think it will take a little time to turn it into something useful.  I will definitely be looking for ways to cut our electric use.


6.  Have Fun
Between the garden and basketball playoffs, I have had fun this week.  Any other college basketball fans out there? 

Weekend Book Reviews

Lethal in Old Lace by Duffy Brown is part of the Consignment Shop Mystery series.  I have not read any of the previous books, but I had no trouble following this one.  Reagan Summerside lives in Savannah, owns a consignment shop, and is newly engaged to Walker Boone.  Her neighbors, sisters Annie and Elise, are professional mourners working with a local retirement center.  When the retirees begin dying faster than expected, Annie and Elise become the prime suspects in the suspicious deaths.  Reagan, her mom, and her aunt jump in to clear their names.  I love how perfectly southern this book is.  I have already added the previous books to my wish list!


The third book in Karen Sue Walker's Bridal Shop Mystery series is Murder in Blue Gingham.  Max is finishing up the dress preparations for her friend Olivia's wedding.  An unexpected guest arrives and is soon murdered putting the wedding in jeopardy.  Max begins investigating in an attempt to save her friend's big day.  I have read the previous books, but it is not necessary to enjoy this one.  I enjoy all of the characters in this book - particularly Keiko, Max's assistant.  Max is a strong, smart lead character which is a nice change from some cozy mystery stereotypes. The mystery kept me guessing up until the end.  A side story line left me anxious for the next book in the series. 


disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley or via the author but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

Death al Fresco by Leslie Karst is the third book in the Sally Solari Mystery series.  Sally is taking an outdoor painting class when her dog finds a dead body.  The dead man just happens to be a customer at her dad's restaurant, and the same man her dad had an altercation with a few days earlier.  Sally sets out to clear her father's name.  The mystery and setting for this book were interesting enough.  I am still amazed that Sally has no real responsibilities when it comes to her restaurant.  Several of the supporting characters are stronger than the main character.  My problem with this book is the political angle.  I read a book to relax not have to have political views forced upon me.

Parnell Hall's The Purloined Puzzle is part of the Puzzle Lady Mystery series.  I have not read any of the previous books, but I was able to follow this book just fine.  Cora is the Puzzle Lady, and she gets an unwelcome visit from a teenager asking her to solve a puzzle.  Cora gets a reprieve when the puzzle is stolen.  She quickly gets caught up in a bigger puzzle involving a body, her ex-husband, and that same pesky teenager.  This was a fun book, and I enjoyed the puzzle aspect of it.  I will definitely be looking for more from this series!


disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Yard Sale Finds & Five Frugal Things

This year our annual yard sale trip was a bit different.  We took Toby with us since there was no one (we trusted) left around the neighborhood to take him for walks while we were gone.  I knew he would ride well since riding is one of his favorite things.  He handles meeting new people with no trouble.  We put him in his new super sturdy harness and headed out.  He did fine but was one tired puppy by the time we arrived home. 


As far as finds this year it was slim.  I count that partly due to the fact I was not looking for much this year.  The second part is that I have a bigger goal of saving money this year.  I found just a few things.  I got a Salad Shooter that was missing some parts, but I have those parts.  I got some glass storage jars and some herb plants. 


Now on to the frugal doings for the past week....


1.  We cut off the heat for a couple of days and opened the windows.  I am ready for Easter to get here so the weather will warm up for good. 


2.  W is on a new schedule at work  We are adjusting to the change.  I planned out meals and his lunches.  While I am putting together his main meal, I also fix myself a plate.  This ensures that I am eating more than just snack foods while he is at work.  It has involved a few new recipes.  This week we had chicken avocado salad wraps and bacon ranch pasta salad. 


3.  I used gift cards earned through Swagbucks to purchase some garden supplies.  W is building me new raised beds to replace some that are worn out. 


4.  I have been cleaning out some areas of the garden.  The chickens have been eating the weeds, and the rabbits are still eating greens from the fall/winter garden.  It is nice to be able to give them treats without having to spend any money.


5.  Laundry was dried on the line.  All meals were cooked at home, and I made use of leftovers.  I checked for coupons before buying groceries. 

Weekly Goals Update: Week 11

1.  Disaster Preparedness
Week 11 is a second food list.  I stay stocked pretty well on basics I do need to keep an eye out for a deal on peanut butter, jelly, and a few canned items.  I have two full freezers, but that will do me no good for a long term power outage.

2.  Makeover the Garden
I have planted all of the potatoes and have five pots.  I spent $4 on the seed potatoes and hope to harvest several pounds.  My plan for the coming week is to get one new raised bed built and filled.  We had frost one night this past week so I will not plant any of my seedlings until closer to Easter.  Just under two weeks until I can get the garden in full swing.

3.  Organize Recipes
I did not work on this goal last week and have no real plans to work on for the coming week.  Hot weather will be here soon enough so I am saving this chore for then.

4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
I knocked another of this out last week.  I could have bought some things but chose instead to make use of what we had.  I have had 3 no spend weeks so far and should have no problem meeting or even beating this goal.

5.  Focus on Saving
We only spent a portion of the money I had set aside for the yard sales.  The leftover money will go toward the credit card debt. 

6.  Have Fun
I spent $6 to sign up for CBS All Access to watch my favorite team (Duke) play in the NCAA tournament.  I am excited to see so many ways to watch the tournament this year without having cable/satellite.  My bracket is already busted, but I am loving the madness that is March.

Weekend Book Reviews

Southern Discomfort by Caroline Fardig is the first book in the Southern B&B Mystery series.  Quinn and her sister, Delilah, run their grandfather's bed and breakfast in Savannah, Georgia.  She is happy with her life even if it lacks excitement.  That all changes when she stops by her friend Drew's restaurant and finds his brother murdered.  Drew is the main suspect, and the investigating officers hint that Quinn may be as well.  Quinn and soon Delilah begin investigating.  I love that Quinn is a good southern woman always trying to be polite.  This book also offers a hint of a ghost which is a southern touch.  This is a good start to a series.  Some of the parts drag just a bit, but the characters have room to grow as this series progresses.

The third book in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Mystery series by Kirsten Weiss is Deja Moo.  Maddie runs a paranormal museum in the town of San Benedetto, California.  It is the holiday season which means the town breaks out the Christmas cow, a giant cow fashioned out of straw.  The second holiday tradition is that the cow is almost always burnt each year.  Unfortunately the cow burning this year comes with murder when one of the cow guards is shot with an arrow.  Maddie helps her mom investigate the murder while dealing with panic over her holiday museum exhibit, haunted cow bells.  I enjoyed the writing style and the characters.  It was nice to have a heroine who has some common sense. 

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

From the Farmhouse Kitchen by Dawn Stoltzfus and Carol Falb features seasonal recipes from the mother daughter pair.  The book also has stories and several faith based sections.  I appreciated that the recipes use basic ingredients that can be found at almost any grocery store.  I marked several recipes that I thought my family would enjoy such as the fruited tapioca and the slow cooker Philly steak sandwiches.  The only downside to this book is the lack of pictures.  I would have appreciated seeing a few of the finished recipes at least.

Matthew Biggs' Grow Something Different to Eat covers a variety of crops from fruiting vegetables to herbs to fruit.  My list of things to grow in the garden has grown since reading this book.  I appreciated the in depth growing information and the cook's tips on how to eat these unusual items.  I found some of my favorite suppliers in the resource section and discovered a few new ones.  I can hardly wait to add honeyberry and goji berries to my garden.  I got some good information on cucamelons, which I already grow in my garden.  This book is full of useful information.  Beware though!  You will probably need to expand your garden after you read it.

The Life of Death by Ralph R Rossell is a look at his time in the funeral business.  The book is a collection of stories that range from funny to sad to shocking.  It was not at all morbid.  I expected to enjoy the book, but I loved it more than I imagined.  I found myself stopping over and over to tell my husband "listen to this".  I then noticed he was repeating the stories to others later on.  This is easily one of the best books I have read this year!

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Frugal Friday

I am back on track with five frugal things this Friday.

1.  W and I packed food and snacks for our yard sale trip.  We saved both time and money.  We took some drinks, fruit, crackers, cheese, turkey, and salami.  Even better when we got home, we ate sandwiches with the leftover meats.  I was happy with an easy meal since we were both tired.

2.  I chose no rush shipping with Amazon for a couple of orders that I was in no rush to get.  I will save the credits and rent a movie for W and me to watch.

3.  I fed the rabbits and chickens greens from my parents' garden.  My dad plowed up half of the garden to plant potatoes but left the rest for me.  I should have it emptied by next week.  The animals have enjoyed the fresh greens.

4.  W gives Toby his weekly bath and clips his nails as needed.  We would need to drive 30 minutes one way to a groomer in addition to the cost of grooming.  This is another instance where we save both time and money.

5.  I found coupon codes before ordering the stuff I needed for the annual Easter egg hunt and for Mother's Day at church.  Between the two I saved $34!

Weekly Goals Update: Week 10

I apologize for the random times of the post.  I hope to be back on track with regular posts next week.  Thanks for your patience!

1.  Disaster Preparedness
Week 10 was all about dental preparedness.  Dental care is a focus for W and myself.  We make regular trips to the dentist, and I keep nearly everything on the list on hand.  I feel good about this but hope I never have to tackle an emergency dental procedure.

2.  Makeover the Garden
I started cleaning up the garden beds.  I have one of the raspberry beds weeded.  Toby is happy to run around, carry sticks and dig holes while I work.  By next month I can see us spending most of our days out there.

3.  Organize Recipes
I tried a few recipes I had saved to Pinterest.  I also deleted a few I most likely will never try.  I have a long way to go but plenty of time left still.

4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
I am planning to focus on this goal during the late spring and summer months when the garden is producing well

5.  Focus on Saving
I am all in on paying off the credit card by the middle of next month.  I have that goal in the back of my mind whenever I consider purchasing a "want" item. 

6.  Have Fun
My fun for week 10 was going to the Peaches to Beaches yard sales.  I will share more about our trip and what I bought in a separate post next week. 

Weekend Book Reviews

Raspberry Danish Murder by Joanne Fluke is the latest book in the Hannah Swensen Mystery series.  I read this book mainly due to the fact that the last one ended as a cliffhanger.  I am disappointed with the direction of this series.  Hannah married someone she barely knew and has turned into a shadow of her former self.  She is no longer a strong cozy mystery character.  While this book has a mystery, it is not the focus.  The focus instead is on drinking coffee constantly and baking new cookies.  A new cookie is baked every day, and I wonder just how large the cookie shop is to hold all of these varieties of cookies.  I did get some resolution to the last cliffhanger and there is most likely enough to draw me into another book.  I keep reading in hopes that the series will get back to what it used to be.

Amanda Flower's second book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series is Lethal Licorice.  Bailey is taking her recently deceased grandfather's place in the Amish Confectionery Competition.  One of the competitors, Josephine, is not thrilled to see non-Amish Bailey allowed to take part.  When Josephine is found dead, Bailey is an obvious suspect along with Josephine's niece.  Bailey must clear their names and find the real murderer.  This is one of my favorite new cozy mystery series, and this book did not disappoint.  This book stands on its own, but I highly recommend reading both books.  I love the setting, the characters, and the writing style.  I am already looking forward to the third book!

I Know What You Bid Last Summer by Sherry Harris is the fifth book in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series.  Sarah gets a job organizing a sports equipment swap for the local school board and adds in some autographed auction items to bring in some funds.  While organizing the equipment in the gym the night before the sale, Sarah is attacked.  She carries on with the sale and makes an awful discovery near the end of the sale.  The school superintendent is murdered with a ski pole.  Sarah begins her own investigation and begins receiving threats.  She juggles this while organizing the world's fanciest garage sale complete with a chandelier, white tent, and free snacks.  This book can be read on its own.  I adore the characters in this book.  Sarah and her friends and neighbors are a wonderful group, and I look forward to reading more of their adventures!

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekly Goals Update: Week 9

1.  Disaster Preparedness

Week 9 was the second part of the medical supply list.  I already had most of the items on hand.  I felt good about this week.  People out here rarely rush to the doctor for every little injury.  I make it a point to keep well stocked on medical supplies.

2.  Makeover the Garden
W got the fence and gates secured around my garden area.  Unfortunately it has been cold and windy this week.  We went to check on the fruit trees and walk through the garden, but that is all.  I am happy to have an area where I can work and Toby can play.

3.  Organize Recipes
I have been going through some e-cookbooks and bookmarking recipes I want to try.  I have not done any work on the paper recipes.  Hot weather will arrive eventually, and this will be a project for then.

4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
I am aiming to cross another one of these off my list later this month.

5.  Focus on Saving
W and I set some savings goals at this past week's budget meeting.  We try to have a budget meeting at least once a month so he stays up to date on our financials.  W got a bonus at work.  We opted to put half of it toward paying down some credit card bills and put the other half into savings. 

6.  Have Fun
I watched more college basketball games this week.  I am all into March Madness!

Have you made any goals for this year?  How are they coming along?

Weekend Book Review: Gardener's Log Book

The Gardener's Log Book by The New York Botanical Garden is a five year planner.  While it is described as a waterproof book, I would consider it barely water resistant.  I did appreciate all of the space for taking notes and sketching a garden layout for each year.  One of the best features is the chart for tracking bloom and harvest dates for plants. 

I would like to have some tabs to allow for quicker access to the seasonal pages.  The elastic closure is a nice touch and feels like it will hold up over time.  This is a good basic garden journal that will be useful to the serious as well as the novice gardener. 

disclosure:  I received this book through Blogging for Books but was not otherwise compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

Death by a Whisker by T. C. LoTiempo is the second book in the Cat Rescue Mystery series.  I had read the first book, but it is not necessary to enjoy this one.  Sydney and her sister Kat run the animal shelter.  They take part in a combined event with a shopping channel star, Ulla, to raise funds for the shelter and showcase some cats for adoption.  When Ulla dies suspiciously, shelter volunteer Maggie is the top suspect, and Sydney sets out to solve the mystery.  I enjoy the characters and setting for this series.  In this particular book, they mystery was not as strong.  I knew the who and how quickly, but the why was not revealed until later in the book.  I adore this series but am hoping for a more solid mystery next time.

Tina Kashian's Hummus and Homicide is the first book in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series.  Lucy has quit her job with a Philadelphia law firm and returns home for a month to gather herself. On her first day home she is already back to being a waitress at her family's restaurant, Kebab Kitchen.  The new health inspector, Heather, writes up a list of "violations" perhaps to get back at Lucy but returns to eat at the restaurant's fully stocked hummus bar.  When Heather dies soon after her hummus meal, Lucy and Kebab Kitchen are the main suspects.  This was a wonderful start to a new series.  The mystery was well thought out even while the author took time to introduce the characters and setting.  I am looking forward to the next book in the series!

Pawprints & Predicaments by Bethany Blake is the third book in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery.  Daphne is the owner of Lucky Paws Petsitting and the soon to be owner of Flour Power (pet bakery) in the pet loving town of Sylvan Creek.  The Tail Waggin' Winterfest is in full swing and that includes a polar bear plunge.  Daphne ends up taking part in the plunge which quickly dissolves into chaos when one of the participants is dies.  This book easily stands on its own.  I love this series for the animal characters just as much as the human ones.  The mystery features several twists and turns which kept me guessing until the end. 

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Frugal Friday

1.  A neighbor found a great sale on pet food and picked up some for me.  I am stocked on cat and puppy foods for the next few months at much less than I would have spent.

2.  I baked W's birthday cake myself using ingredients I had on hand.  I made a Browned Butter Pecan Cake and it was a hit.  His birthday fell on the same day as a dinner at church so we shared the cake.  

3.  I took time to fill out a grocery store survey for a $5 coupon.  I knew I would be spending over $40 so that was a nice savings for a few minutes of my time.

4.  I kept the heat/air off for yet another week.  It was chilly one night, but I just bundled up a bit.  

5.  W and I ate all of our meals at home, combined errands, hung out laundry, and reused items already on hand for a few projects.