Pantry Challenge - Day 1

We were invited to eat with family so our only real meal at home yesterday was breakfast.  On Monday I had made a batch of homemade English muffins.  They helped use up some yogurt.  The majority of the English muffins went into the freezer.   I kept some out for breakfast.  Below is what W had to eat. 

 

 

He chose to have egg and ham on his muffin.  I had ham and cheese.  The eggs were from my parents' chickens as our are on strike.  The ham was from the freezer.  This may be our breakfast of choice for the next couple of days. 

 

Tomorrow I will have the weekly grocery purchases and another stock up item made with pantry staples.

Birthday and Anniversary Cards for 2013

I have tried all day to upload some photos for this post, but I only managed to get two.  I really enjoy sending birthday and anniversary cards to family and friends.  This year I decided to make cards rather than buy them.  I have an assortment of supplies so it was basically just time. 

I also prefer to prepare cards for the coming year all at once.  I keep them divided by month.  At the beginning of the month,  I pull the cards and then just need to mail them.  If you are one of the friends I send cards to, act surprised when yours arrives in the mail this year.

Here is a sample of a birthday card I made.  I used an embossing folder to do the swirls.  I stamped and colored the image in the center.  The insides are stamped with various birthday sentiments.

The anniversary card features the same embossed design.  The bird embellishment was actually a purchased tag.  I used a jewel piece to cover the whole where the ribbon would have gone.

 

 

I do plan to use my Cricut to make some cards this year.  A part of me really likes the simple cards though.



Joining a Pantry Challenge

W already made the comment that we needed to do a pantry challenge.  When I saw this post on Good Cheap Eats, I knew I wanted to join in. 

My goals are to use what we have and cut my grocery spending.  I did some stocking up over the holidays and am paying for it now.  We have plenty of food on hand and are in no danger of going hungry or even feeling deprived.  It will involve some cooking from scratch.  I will still pick up a few fresh foods.  Otherwise I will use what we have.

Are you planning to eat from the pantry to start the new year?

Furry Friday

JJ

 

Paris

 



Lucy

Homemade Gift - Cinnamon Roasted Pecans

I have a few people on my gift list that like to give a food gift each year.  This year I adjusted the recipe here.  The original recipe called for almonds.  I have pecan trees in my yard which means I have an abundance of free pecans.  I substituted pecans for the almonds.  I used 4 cups instead of the 3 1/2 cups.  I found that it reduced the amount of wasted sugar.  I made a double batch of cinnamon roasted pecans.

A couple of years ago I picked up some cute holiday themed Chinese takeout boxes.  I think I paid 9 cents each for them.  They have been sitting in a plastic tote waiting to be used.  I lined each one with a piece of waxed paper. 

I filled each box with pecans, signed the gift tag, and they were ready to go. 

Bell Gift Tags

I am making an effort to use my Cricut more and have decided to jump in on this week's challenge from the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog.  The challenge is Bells Are Ringing.  I used the Very Merry Tags cartridge to make some bell gift tags.  I used some scrap paper and leftover ribbon so it was a very frugal project and even better than buying gift tags!

Handmade Christmas Gifts

My family has lots of little girls in it.  This year I learned to knit using circle looms.  I decided to make some knitted gifts.  First I made knitted hats in two sizes based on the ages of the girls.

Here is a close up of one of the hats.  I should say a big thank you to hubby W for making the flowers for me.

The older girls are getting matching knitted scarves in the same pink yarn.  The younger girls are getting leggings made from knee high socks.  I used this tutorial.  It was really quite easy.  I think they turned out cute.

I used two and a third skeins of yarn (less than $10) to make six hats and two scarves. The knee high socks were $2 a pair.  I would have paid at least $10 each to buy similar hats.  Making these items was definitely worth my time and helped stretch my budget.