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Archive for March, 2012|Monthly archive page

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Eating Organic Food on A Budget…yes, you can

In Budget Smart Girl's Guide on March 29, 2012 at 2:03 pm

There’s no doubt about it organic food is not only good for you but it tastes better too. Whenever I can I try to squeeze in as much organic and natural food into my budget as I can. Sometimes it’s tough but here are some things that I’ve found work-

Grow Your Own

Last year and this year I’m planning on growing some organic vegetables like tomatoes. The seeds don’t cost much more than regular seeds. One place to check out is  Seeds of Change which offer both seeds and live plants

http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_center/browse_category.aspx?id=1

Farmer’s Markets

Farmer’s markets are already open in some parts of the country and in others, opening soon. They cut out the middle man which always means savings to you. Lots of organic farmers take their produce to farmer’s markets and if you buy in bulk and share it with a few friends, the savings can really add up.

Pick Your Own

A fun day out for the whole family is visiting a pick your own farm. Some are organic and for a little work, you can net big savings on organic fruits like strawberries, raspberries and apples.http://pickyourown.org/

The Dirty Dozen

If money’s tight buy organic produce in the Dirty Dozen category and not the cleaner produce. Check out this list http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/

CSA

No not another forensic show but Community Supported Agriculture. This year we’ve signed up for the first time. We’ve bought shares in a local farm and for that share we get a box of organic produce (fruit, herbs and vegetables) for 20 weeks. The cost per day to feed three people is just $1.16 and I know I couldn’t beat that price at the supermarket or co-op. I think it’s going to be fun too because each week the box will contain different produce. I’m looking forward to planning meals around what I receive rather than what recipes I want to make.

Earth Day and Other Green Events

Earth Day is next month which means promotions on all things green including organic foods. It will be a great time to stock up. I either freeze or dry anything that I can’t use straight away.

Warehouse Stores

I’m no longer a member of a warehouse store but when I was one of my favorite buys was the organic produce. Large containers of things like field greens that were half the price of the same thing at the grocery store. If you can’t use everything try sharing the cost with a friend or co-worker.

Co-ops

Co-ops were selling organic foods long before supermarkets and they still have some of the best buys. Look for things like bags of apples, oranges and pears because that’s where I’ve usually found the best deals.

Make Organic the Star of the Meal

One way to justify buying organic produce is to forgo something more expensive like meat and make a vegetable focused dish like a curry or stir-fry.

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It’s Meatless Monday-Tofu and Peanut Noodles

In Meatless Mondays on March 26, 2012 at 2:56 pm

A package of ramen noodles is always inexpensive. Tofu won’t break the bank, and broccoli’s been on sale for the last month. Add them all up, throw in some peanuts and pantry standbys and you’ve got the perfect combination for a Meatless Monday meal.

2 packages ramen noodles, your choice of flavors. I used Oriental

1 16 ounce package of tofu

3 cups of broccoli florets

1/3 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup peanuts

Oil

As always I freeze and then defrost the tofu. Drain it well and cut it into bite size cubes and place in a glass dish and add some oil and the flavoring from the packages in the ramen noodles and mix until completely coated. Let this marinade for a few hours or all day if you like. Saute the cubes until crispy and set them aside.

Cook the noodles, drain them but reserve about 1/2- 3/4 cups of liquid.

Heat some oil in a saucepan and stir fry the broccoli until crisp tender. Add the tofu. Add the noodles and stir everything together and then gradually add the soy sauce, peanut butter and reserved water. Heat throughly and right before serving, top with peanuts.

As a garnish I also added some French’s fried onions

Serves 4

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Reasons to Love March

In Budget Smart Girl's Guide on March 22, 2012 at 4:37 pm

Where I live, March usually means the long, cold winter is coming to an end and it’s a reason to celebrate. This year no snow and temperatures in the eighties. However, that’s not the only reason to smile. If you’re a Budget Smart Girl, March is one of the best months for picking up bargains. Here are my favorite picks-

It’s Frozen Food Month

Just about everything in the freezer section in the supermarket is on sale. Yesterday I bought great buys on frozen veggies and pizza which I always keep on hand for emergency meals. Most big name brands have some type of promotion going on. And if you’re in the market for a freezer, they’re usually on sale or someone’s having a giveway to win a chest freezer.

Lent

Easter falls at different times each year but you can safely say the month of March is when Lent begins. Lent means fish and it, like frozen foods. goes on sale. This month I’ve stocked up on everything from frozen cod, shrimp and beer battered fish filets. Fish is getting more expensive so you can’t afford not to take advantage of these sales.

St. Patrick’s Day

The big savings come after St. Patrick’s Day when green plates, cups, napkins etc. go on sale. Green is also one of the colors of Christmas so it’s perfect for grabbing some bargains…even green gift bags, and storing them away for the holidays.

Easter

Sometimes it’s over and done by the end of March which means slashed prices on Easter eggs, candy, napkins, plates. If the candy sticks around long enough I use it in baking for the rest of  year. Other items I store away for next Easter instead of paying full price.

Eggs

Eggs aren’t as cheap as they were a couple of years ago but still give you one of the biggest bangs for your nutritional buck. Nice thing about March or when Easter occurs, eggs go on sale so people can decorate them. I use this time to stock up. I not only use them for meals but store them for later use. No, not as is, but I take a dozen eggs, beat them, add some salt, sometimes some cheese and herbs and pour them into a baking dish and cook them. I then cut them into squares and freeze them. They make perfect fillings for sandwiches and quick breakfasts.

Winter Items On Sale

If you’ve been holding off on buying a snow blower or anything associated with winter weather, this is the ideal time to head to the store. I’m guessing with the warm weather we’ve had, prices will be slashed even more this year.

Add to Your Wardrobe

And my final thing I like about March is clothes go on sale. Not that I rush out to buy a whole new wardrobe but it’s a good time to give your closet a spring clean. While I’m packing away sweaters for the year, I check to see if anything needs tossing, donating, and if I need items that are now on sale, like maybe a new black sweater. Don’t wait until the end of summer or fall to figure out you need something for winter because it’s going to cost you twice as much. The key to being budget smart; shop off season.

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It’s Meatless Monday-Broccoli and Mushroom Lasagna

In Meatless Mondays on March 19, 2012 at 1:51 pm

Sometimes I create meals around what’s on sale and what’s in the pantry. That’s how this broccoli and mushroom lasagna came about. It’s quick and easy. I used cottage cheese in place of ricotta cheese because it was also on sale and I think tastes just as good in this type of dish. Nice thing about this one is you can make it ahead of time and then just put it into the oven. It also freezes well and serves 8, so it goes a long way.

1 pound broccoli, washed and cooked until tender, break it into small florets

1 8 ounce box mushrooms…I used baby bellas as that’s what was on sale. Slice them and saute until slightly browned

9 slices of lasagna pasta, cook until tender

1 14 ounce jar of pasta sauce, your choice

8 ounce carton cottage cheese

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Spray a large cooking dish or pan with non stick spray. Pour some pasta sauce on the bottom and then layer with 3 sheets of the lasagna, top with a layer of mushrooms and broccoli, then a layer of pasta sauce, a layer of cottage cheese, and then finally some shredded cheese. Keep layering in this order until everything is used.

Cover in foil and bake for around 20 minutes in a 375 degree oven until everything is heated through, bubbly and cheese has melted and slightly browned.

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Easter Savings

In Georgine Saves Blogs on March 14, 2012 at 12:09 pm

Here is Georgine’s March post and it’s all about saving money at Easter-

March is a transition month. Winter is on its way out and spring is starting to show its face. Keep that in mind while shopping for Easter and other holiday outfits because you can snag some great bargains in addition to your Easter bonnet. Macy’s will always help you put your best foot forward and remember coupons and coupon codes can be used on sale items as well as full-priced merchandise. For kid’s spring fashions try Cookies Kids for a large selection at a small price.

You may be surprised to find more than books when you see the great Easter basket finds and much, much more that Barnes & Noble has for this season. Just think, you’ll be able to give an educational gift that’s fun too.

To send holiday wishes near and far visit American Greetings for a variety of cards and special offers to express all your feelings. This is especially welcomed to those whom you can’t be with.

Don’t forget to order from Omaha Steaks to get bargains on entire holiday dinner packages. Delicious savings will be delivered right to your door and you’ll be able to cook and prepare it yourself.

Candy is on everyone’s shopping list, especially jelly beans. Easter baskets have come a long way. Now you can select only the flavors you crave or get an assortment. Either way , do your shopping early to take advantage of sales.

A big part of every holiday celebration is the photographic memories. Get deals on digital cameras this month and share your creative genius with prints and photo books that will be treasured for years to come. Keep in mind, when new models are released, last year’s can be grabbed up at reduced prices. If you do not want or need all the bells and whistles, these cameras will create the same quality photos.

In the supermarket March is Frozen Food Month. This means there will be lots of specials in the frozen food aisle.  Be sure to check your Sunday newspapers and online coupon sources so that you will be able to match coupons with the offers. Get a head start and organize your freezer so you will have room for everything. Remember, a full freezer uses less energy than an empty one.

Depending upon the area of the country you live in, it’s time to think about gardening. Check your supplies. Gardening tools will be on sale for the early bird, don’t wait until the rest of the country catches up, buy now and save.

Think Spring and look forward to sunny days. www.georginesaves.com

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It’s Meatless Monday-Veggie Potato Nests

In Meatless Mondays on March 12, 2012 at 3:11 pm

Sometimes you get tired of cooking the same old recipes. That’s how I felt about the shepherd’s pie I kept making. So for this Meatless Monday dish I thought I’d try using the same ingredients but present them in a different way. The result, veggie potato nests using Yves Meatless Ground, which costs $3.48.  I decided to add the carrots to the potatoes and mash them together instead of adding them to the Meatless Grounds.

1 package Yves Meatless Ground

1 pound of potatoes, cut into quarters

3 large carrots, cut into about 8 pieces

salt, pepper, butter or margarine and some milk

1 onion, diced

Gravy powder, pepper, salt, onion powder

1/2 cup veggie stock

oil

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Cook the potatoes and carrots together in a large pot. Drain and mash, add salt, pepper, butter and milk.

On a large non-stick cooking sheet, put mounds of the potatoes and make ‘nests’ with them.  Put them in the oven for about ten minutes until they’re slightly crisp and browned.

Meanwhile, saute the onions in some oil in a skillet, cook until softened and add the Yves Meatless Ground. Add some salt, pepper, onion powder and some gravy powder and slowly add the stock until everything is well blended and slightly thickened.

Take the potatoes out of the oven and top with the Meatless Ground mixture. Return them to the oven and cook until warmed through.

Serve with peas or mixed veggies.

Serve 4-5 people. 

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Saving More of the Green With Extreme Couponing

In Uncategorized on March 9, 2012 at 12:25 pm

Here is Marcia Layton Turner’s March post-

Extreme couponers are all about the green – saving it, that is. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day this month, I thought we’d talk a little about holding on to more of the green in your wallet.

 Coupons are a terrific way to get more for less green. But before you even whip out your stack of coupons, there are some steps you can take to further reduce your grocery expenses.

 Gift cards. Instead of using cash or a debit or credit card to pay for your groceries, invest in discounted gift cards for your favorite grocery store. There are several places to find discounted gift cards, including giftcardgranny.com, giftcardrescue.com, monstergiftcard.com and eBay.com. If you can obtain a gift card at a 10% or 20% discount off the face value, such as by paying $90 for a $100 card, you’ve saved yourself money before you even walk in the store.

 Group buying offers. Although they’re not available all the time, when you come across an opportunity to buy a certificate at a grocery store or pharmacy from a group buying site like Groupon, take it. There was a recent offer for a $20 certificate at CVS for $10 through LivingSocial.com, for example. If you bought that deal, you’d immediately save 50% on any purchase. I’ve seen supermarkets offer such deals, too, from time to time, so buy them when you see them.

 Rebates. Another way to save more green is through rebate offers. Most rebates offer money back on a particular product – often 100% of your purchase price – which makes them well working searching for. Some rebate forms are available for download online, so try searching Google for rebate forms. Some are printed can be purchased on eBay for a small clipping fee. TheCouponClippers.com lists the printed rebate offers it has found at this link: http://www.thecouponclippers.com/coupons/search.php?mode=search .Others are provided to shoppers as “Try Me Free” stickers on the front of products, which you need to watch for.

 Once you’re in the store, here are some new and better ways to maximize your savings:

 Load e-coupons on your store rewards card. One of the latest trends in couponing is the use of e-coupons, or coupons that are transferred onto store rewards cards at supermarkets and pharmacies from your computer. That’s how SavingStar.com works; you select the virtual coupons you want loaded onto your rewards cards and when you buy the product, your savings are banked at SavingStar.

 Cellfire works a similar way, allowing you to search for available coupons by zip code and then load them onto a store rewards card or phone. The useful thing about these types of coupons is that they can be stacked with printed manufacturer and store coupons for even greater savings.

 Check the clearance section. Nearly every store has an end cap display or section that contains products the store is trying to clear out asap. The items are typically marked down by at least 50%, meaning that your savings potential is huge after coupons. Our local Rite Aid currently has Betty Crocker sugar cookie mixes marked down 50% to $1.49. With the $1/2 cookie mix coupons in circulation, these are a great buy. But unless you scan the clearance section, you might miss out on these cheap deals.

 Stalk the online coupon websites. Internet coupon sites like Coupons.com, SmartSource.com, and RedPlum.com are terrific places to find coupons available to print. However, the most popular coupons often disappear soon after being made available on the site. That’s because many manufacturers set limits on the number of coupons that can be printed and redeemed. To increase your odds of being able to print off these valuable coupons, check the online coupon sites a few times a week.

 Combining some or all of these money-saving tactics will certainly bring you good fortune this month.

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Foods You can Make Yourself

In Budget Smart Girl's Guide on March 8, 2012 at 4:40 pm

One thing I’ve figured out recently is that some snack foods like crackers and cookies can take a bite out of your grocery budget. As my Budget Smart Girl philosphy is to never do without, I’ve been looking for recipes to make my own.

The Internet is a great resource and I’ve found some I’d like to share with you-

Cookies

I get e-mails from Tablespoon and saw a link to a recipe for animal crackers. You save money, these use wholewheat flour, and you know what you and your children are eating-

http://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/animal-cracker-cookies-recipe/1/

Focaccia

If like me, you’re a fan focaccia you’ll know that it’s overpriced at the store. Last year I found this recipe on YahooUK. You’ll need to convert the measurements as it’s in metric. This is easy to make, breadmaking skills aren’t really necessary, and it tastes great too. I’ve tried experimenting with different herbs, and even used pesto sauce on the top. It pairs well with salads and is especially good with a bowl of minestrone soup.

http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/lorraine-pascale-s-focaccia-bread.html

Gourmet Breads

And speaking of breads. I got hooked on a cheese bread at the store but when the price went up and up, I said enough, I’m making my own. At Christmas I ordered some Vermont Cheese Powder from the King Arthur company and it’s a great find. I add it along with shredded cheese and I”m not bragging when I say it’s better then the store’s version. If you’re thinking about making some, this is a great addition…and check out their other items for home bakers. I see on the package it says it’s also good in homemade mac and cheese mixes too.

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/vermont-cheese-powder-6-oz

Crackers

I think crackers and chips are some of the over priced items in the store and I saw this recipe for homemade Rosemary and Sesame Crisps in the Monterey Spice Company newsletter. Scroll down because it’s the third recipe

http://www.herbco.com/t-recipes-november.aspx

More Cracker Recipes

And while doing a search for cracker recipes I found this site with a whole bunch of them-

http://www.garvick.com/recipesmm/cracker_recipes.htm

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It’s Meatless Monday-Tofu and Mushroom Stew

In Meatless Mondays on March 5, 2012 at 6:10 pm

When an ice/snow storm hit last week, I thought of one thing, stew. There’s nothing better than eating something savory and hearty when you’ve been outside on a cold winter’s day. However, this time I thought I’d replace beef with tofu. At $1.89 for a 16 ounce package, it makes an inexpensive meal. I always buy some, place it in the freezer and then take out a couple of packages to defrost for use throughout the week. I’ve found by freezing it, it takes away some of the what I call ‘wobbly’ qualities of tofu. Just drain it well…you might have to squeeze some of the water out too. I then let it soak all day in a mixture of oil, soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper and some Worcestershire Sauce…you can get veggie versions of this too if you want to go completely vegetarian.

Another trick I’ve learned is to saute it to make it crisp before you add it to recipes.

1 16 ounce package of extra firm tofu, drained and chopped

1 box of mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

3 carrots, peeled and chopped

2 onions, chopped

Salt and Pepper

2-2/12 cups of stock…whatever’s on hand

Oil

In a large pan, saute marinated tofu. Keep turning it and wait for it to get slightly browned and crispy. I also added the mushrooms too so they were lightly browned. Set aside.

In a large saucepan, heat some oil and add the carrots and onions. Saute until softened and then slowly add the stock and cook until the vegetables are almost done.

Add the mushrooms and tofu mixture and blend together carefully so you don’t break up the tofu too much. Heat through and serve with mashed potatoes and green beans.

Serve 4-5

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Spring Fashion and Beauty Money Saving Tips from Dale

In Uncategorized on March 2, 2012 at 7:50 pm

 Here is Dale’s February post and she has a new address for her site which is www.savvyspice.com

 
Nicki Minaj Meets Mad Men
 
Do you watch Mad Men? The shows costume’s alone are enough of a reason to tune into the show. I’m so excited that 60′s trends from peplum to pencil skirts are huge trends this Spring. Banana Republic has an entire line of dresses and designs inspired by the show. The Banana Republic Mad Men collection is coming soon, but there’s a few ways to start working the style now.
 
Keep your eye out for all the pretty peplum blooming in stores nationwide. The trend is most popular on skirts, tops, dresses, jackets etc. It’s feminine and is one of the few trends you can customize to flatter your figure. If you have a boyish figure, find a peplum skirt which will actually give more of an illusion of curvier hips. If you have a small waist or slimmer upper body, you can accentuate this with a peplum top which truly creates a gorgeous silhouette on a woman’s natural waistline.
 
While my head is swirling around all of the 60′s trends, how can you add a modern element? The key is makeup and accessories. My new favorite lipstick is a bright pink shade by MAC from the Nicki Minaj collection called Viva Glam Nicki. It’s bold, it’s bright and it’s riding the neon train trend all the way into summer. It infuses the perfect pop of color into your 60′s era flashback. You can see me wearing this new lipstick on my blog post here: http://www.savvyspice.com/2012/02/pippa-effect-5-tips-to-dress-revealing.html
 
I’ve also used it in photoshoots and commercials for clients and it’s been a fan favorite. You can tone down the brightness by adding a soft lipgloss over it as well.
 
HAIR/BEAUTY
 
Simple Side Swept Hair Tutorial
Are there days you want your hair to look effortless, but still look as pretty as possible. I braved a windy San Francisco afternoon a few weeks ago wearing one of my newly discovered super short hairstyle routines.
 
Here’s one of the easiest styles I discovered recently with a modern twist. In fact, hair twists are a big hair trend in 2012. Below is the step by step process I used in these photos for my hair that takes less than 5 minutes:
 
1. Brush your hair out from the night before. (You can leave a few strands on the opposite side to create balance)
2. Side-swept hair is hot right now as you may have noticed on celebs at the Oscars from Stacy Keibler to Maya Rudolph. However, you’ll want to tone it down for daytime so simply brush all of your hair to one side.
3. Take a small section from the outer edge and twist it around the rest of your hair creating an instant hair band with your own locks. (This look can be messy and romantic, but still look very chic.)
4. Use a few bobby pins to strategically hold the side twist and then use hairspray if necessary. You’re basically creating a loose low ponytail band with your own hair.
5. Add a fresh flower from one of your left over bouquets to cover the bobby pins if you want. I used a little faux flower clip from H&M.
 
Bonus Tip if you Wear Clip-In Extensions: I wanted to share the easiest way to avoid the dreaded ‘clip slip’ with extensions. Personally, I love clip in extensions. They add volume and length to my locks depending on what hairstyle I want to create. Plus, I can take them out every night without damaging my hair. Since so many women wear them these days, I feel comfortable admitting that I’m actually wearing a few clip-in pieces in these photos. (Hopefully you didn’t notice)

 
The Side Swept Extension Trick: Here’s the trick to adding extensions for any side swept hairstyle to avoid anyone spotting them. The key is to ONLY put extensions on the side of your head where you want to create the side swept look. (I added three of the narrow extensions on top of each other covered by my real hair only on the one side of my hair.) There is no reason to distribute extensions evenly across your entire head to try and brush them all to one side. You can apply this same concept of only adding extensions to one side to create fishtail braids, messy buns, side pony tails, fancy wedding hairstyles, etc.
I hope these hairstyle tips are helpful and you can see the full look of this Pippa Middleton inspired lace dress I’m wearing on my style blog www.SavvySpice.com.

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