Fashion-

The Sweetest Valentine

Whether your relationship status is red hot or not so great right now doesn’t mean you can’t create a lovely Valentine’s Day for yourself.

How does a little retail therapy sound? You’ve heard that old saying the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, but it’s a huge color this spring. Without breaking the bank, keep your eye out for one of the hottest hues in spring apparel which is bright green. The best shade to spot is one similar to the green on a stoplight or Gumbi. When you’re out and about, look for handbags, pants and tops in green to add a perfect pop of color to any outfit.

 A mani/pedi is one of those rituals that is an instant stress reliever the second your toes hit the spa water. And don’t forget the rolling massager down your spine as you relax in the recliner. If you can’t make it to the nail salon often, choose a long lasting spring polish like sheer pastels or soft neutral tones.

If you love roses, but don’t have a special someone this Valentine’s, grab a bright pink bouquet for your room. Afterall, bright pink is a way hotter color than red this spring anyway. One way to lighten the mood is to keep an eye out for this spring’s must have pastel color pallete. Some examples are Sea-foam green, ultra-light lilac, baby blue. You name the pastel shade and stores are stocking spring attire in it.

 If you’re going on a date for Valentine’s day, it may sound cliché but a red dress never fails to impress. Or a red and pink outfit incorporating color blocking might make you the most fashionable date in the crowded over-priced restaurant. Here’s to a sweet, relaxing heart filled Valentine’s Day.

 Makeup-

Makeup Trends for Spring ‘12 in Full Bloom

As spring is just around the corner, it’s nice to have an occasional glow on sunny mornings. What’s on the menu for makeup this spring? If you want a glow to show off a very subtle tan or just add a bit of color the best facial tanner I’ve discovered is Temtu’s bronzing system from Sephora. It’s an airbrush tan you can easily apply to your face and then wash your hands when you’re done. It’s truly one of the most natural tans I’ve ever artificially applied to my face. It’s a nice formula that doesn’t make me break out or streak.

 Bright neon shades are everywhere which I’m sure you’ve noticed already. Feel free to try neon lipstick eye shadow, or nail polish. Choosing some strategically placed neon accessories is a serious style “Do” this spring. If you add a neon clutch, handbag, bracelets or watches you’ll be on a personal best dressed list.

I’ve discovered applying makeup is about 20% easier when I have my eyebrows in order. Check out Youtube videos on how to shape and pluck brows or go to a pro to get waxed. There are so many amazing options and eyebrow specialists in cities who know exactly what they’re doing to get you those movie star brows. Or at least something close to them and with Awards Season in full force, who doesn’t like to watch the stars on the red carpet and feel a little star power as well. Well groomed eye brows frame your face and actually can cut down on your morning routine if you have blond brows like me and get them tinted. It eliminates the pesky task of ‘filling in’ your brows in the AM.

 Here’s to a fresh dip into Spring fashion and cosmetic trends. Now, if the warm weather could just get here a little sooner so we can break out the sundresses.

 http://www.savvyspice.net/

And the following recipe also contains nutritional yeast which is optional. I  use it and buy in the bulk bins at the local. You can also purchase it online.

Here’s the link to truRoots if you want to learn more about the product and they have some recipes too.

http://www.truroots.com/Default.aspx

And here’s the link to this Monday’s recipe if you want to try it.

http://www.meatlessmonday.com/quinoa-chili/

And finally some photos I took as I made this recipe-

Chicken Pringlers 

INGREDIENTS

·   2- 6.38-ounce cans of  Pringles (BBQ, Honey Mustard, Xtreme Blastin Buffalo or any of your favorite Pringles flavors)

·   2 pounds of boneless chicken breast or chicken tenders, cut into 1 1/2” nuggets

·   2 cups of skim milk or buttermilk

 DIRECTIONS

1.   Preheat oven to 400°F with a rack in the middle.

2.   Place nuggets in milk.

3.   Puree the Pringles in a food processor, and pour into a large sealable plastic bag. Place two or three nuggets at a time in the bag and shake to coat.

4.   Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray, and place the well-coated nuggets in a single layer. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. 

5.   Remove and let stand, uncovered, 5 to 10 minutes to crisp.

Crispy Fish Nuggets

INGREDIENTS

·    2- 6.38-ounce cans of Pringles Salt & Vinegar flavor

·    2 pounds cod fillets, cut into 1-inch cubes

·    2 cups of skim milk

DIRECTIONS

1.   Place nuggets in milk.

2.   Puree the Pringles in a food processor, and pour into a large sealable plastic bag. Place two or three nuggets at a time in the bag and shake to coat.

3.   Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray, and place the well-coated nuggets in a single layer. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. 

4.   Remove and let stand, uncovered, 5 to 10 minutes to crisp.

Loaded Twice-Baked Taters Appetizers

INGREDIENTS

·   2 – 6.38-ounce cans of Pringles Loaded Baked Potato flavor

·   1 1/2 cup skim milk

·   1 egg

·  1 slice of cheese

·   Dried chives for garnish

·    Bacon bits for garnish, optional

 DIRECTIONS

1.  Preheat oven to 350°F.

2.   Place one 6.38-ounce can of Pringles Loaded Baked Potato crisps in a food processor and puree until well crushed.

3.   Add milk, egg and cheese slice into mixture and puree until well mixed.

4.   Take Pringles from remaining can and place 48 crisps on a cookie sheet with the curve of the crisp and sides facing down.

5.    With a very small spoon, place a rounded scoop onto each crisp and sprinkle with dried chives and bacon bits.

6.   Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes. Remove and let cool for about 5 minutes before serving.

Slow Cooker

Even when they went out of fashion I still used one. I now have two and thinking about adding a third one. I’ve used mine from everything from making mashed potatoes to apple butter. Most of the time I rely on them for soups and stews. They’re not expensive to buy, cost efficient to run, and once everything’s placed inside you can walk away and forget about it. I can’t think of an easier way to get dinner on the table.

Bread Machine

One of my favorite indulgences is artisan breads. Problem is they cost a lot and the prices are rising (no pun intended). One of my New Year resolutions was to start making my own. One I especially love is cheese bread. This past weekend I made a cheese and onion bread. They’re not that expensive to buy, and like the slow cooker, when everything’s added you can leave it unattended. Check out garage sales because I see them a lot. Seems people buy one and don’t realize just how great they are.

Food Dehydrator

And speaking of cheese and onion bread. The onions  I used were dried Vidalia onions I’d bought when they were in abundance and hence cheap, and used my food dehydrator. When you don’t have time to can this is a lifesaver. This summer I dehydrated strawberries, onions and peppers. At Christmas when I bought a box of oranges, I dehydrated those too and will be using them in brownies. Once again check garage sales and also thrift stores for this appliance.

Food Saver

I call this a life saver because once again if you don’t have time to can or have leftoevers you can’t eat before they go bad, this machine comes to the rescue. They’re coming down in price and a couple of models you can buy at supermarkets. I’ve used mine to store homemade TV dinners, soups, fish from warehouse stores, and even items I’ve purchased from bulk bins.

Food Processor

Last one on my list, and probably the most expensive of the bunch depending on what brand you buy, the food processor. I use mine for homeade dips and spreads like hummus which I think is overpriced at the store. I also use it for things like bean burgers rather than mash the beans by hand.

These are all items that I feel save you money and time. Have them in your kitchen and you’re more likely to make your own foods. You’ll rely less on processed foods that are not only take a chunk of your budget but they’re not that great for your health either.

Budget Smart Girl (BSG)-Tell us about yourself, how you became a vegan and how the cookbooks came about?

Lindsay Nixon (LN)-I’ve followed a plant-based diet for 5 years, but I don’t identify as a vegan. About a year after I adopted a plant-based diet I started blogging. There weren’t many vegan cookbooks on the market back then and the ones that did exist weren’t really healthy focused (lots of processed sugar, white flour, gobs of margarine and oil, plus weird, bizarre ingredients) so I started posting pictures and recipes of my meals online — just in case there was some other person like me out there that wanted healthy, easy plant-based meals. Never in my wildest dreams did I think anyone would read my blog, or that it would get so popular that it would lead to a book, which became a bestseller, and led to a second and now a third book.

My cookbooks are an extension of what I wanted to create with my blog: easy, no fuss healthy recipes that are plant-based and use common, inexpensive, everyday ingredients. I wanted to prove that eating healthy was easy, approachable, affordable, realistic and delicious. 

BSG- What will readers find in the books?

LN-Recipes — lots of recipes! Plus some cooking tips and tricks — and pictures! 

BSG-Besides being a healthier diet, can people save money eating vegan foods?

LN-Oh absolutely. I cut my grocery bill in half. Vegan staples like beans, rice, seasonal fruits and vegetables cost a fraction of the price for animal products like meat and dairy.  There have been weeks where I spent less than $50 to feed a family of three adults and 2 dogs (the dogs get home cooked meals)… and we buy organic.

 Then there are other savings — going plant-based “cured” my sister’s allergies, so she is saving hundreds, if not thousands, by not having to buy medication or go to her allergist for shots. I pretty much eliminated my migraines, so I’m off that medication, which was about $7 a pill, AND I was taking 2, sometimes 3 a week.

 BSG- What are you tips for beginning vegans, or even those people who want to eat vegan a few days a week?

LN-Take it a meal at a time. Focus on all the foods you can have, not the items you’re choosing to leave off your plate.

Attitude is everything. Have a positive attitude and you’ll have a positive experience.  

BSG-I like some of the fake meats but the prices have risen a lot in the last few years. Any tips for places to buy them, like online? Or how about making your own. Is that easy or not something most of us can do?

LN-I have recipes for making your own faux meats and cheeses in my cookbook which are much cheaper and much healthier. We don’t really eat much fake meat or fake cheese — for one, it’s not really available to us and two, it’s not really healthy. Healthier than animal products? absolutely, but not as healthy as whole foods. 

BSG-What are some of your favorite budget friendly vegan foods and meals?

LN-Just about every recipe in my new cookbook costs less than $5 to make — and even the recipes in my first cook are really inexpensive.  

BSG-Is there a recipe you think we’d enjoy making for one of our Meatless Mondays?

 LN-Quick Burgers, here’s the recipe- (note from BSG-I tried these and they are delicious, really quick to put together and inexpensive, what could be better?)

Quick Burgers | makes 4

I developed these burgers in a hotel room: they’re quick, easy and require very few ingredients. (In fact, except for the beans and a seasoning packet, I sourced all the ingredients from the complimentary “breakfast bar”). I make these burgers any time I need a super fast meal or I’m really low on ingredients.

15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tsp onion powder (granulated)
1 tsp garlic powder (granulated)
1/3 c instant oats

Preheat oven to 400F. Grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper and set aside. In a mixing bowl, mash black beans with a fork until mostly pureed but still some half beans and bean parts are left. Stir in condiments and spices until well combined. Then mix in oats. Divide into 4 equal portions and shape into thin patties with your hands. Bake for 7 minutes, carefully flip over and bake for another 7 minutes, or until crusty on the outside. Slap into a bun with extra condiments and eat!

Chef’s note: If you only have rolled oats, chop them up in a food processor or blender so they are smaller and more like instant oats. Rolled oats left whole tend to make the burgers fall apart.

Per Burger: 109 Calories, 0.5g Fat, 17.6g Carbohydrates, 3g Fiber, 2.2g Sugars, 5g Protein

 Biography

Lindsay S. Nixon is a rising star in the culinary world, praised for her ability to use everyday ingredients to create healthy, low fat recipes that taste just as delicious as they are nutritious. Lindsay’s recipes have been featured in Vegetarian Times, Women’s Health Magazine and on The Huffington Post. Lindsay is also a consulting chef at La Samanna, a luxury resort and four-star restaurant in the French West Indies. You can learn more about Lindsay, purchase her cookbooks, and sample some of her recipes at http://happyherbivore.com/

I’m not sure what it was about the store that drew me in every month but I felt compelled to go check it out. However, the outcome was always the same. I’d come out empty handed and disheartened because being organized was obviously out of my budget.  Always one for a challenge, I took note of the items in the store. I looked around to find things that were either free or low cost to help organize my home and office.  Here are some of my favorites and most of them you either toss out or can find at garage sales or thirft stores-

Egg Cartons

I often use these for starting seeds in spring but they’re also perfect for desk tops, hobby and craft areas. and even the workbench for storing nails and bolts.

Spice Jars

I’m terrible at throwing things away even if I have two of them. I got a new spice jar rack and just hated to get rid of this one. I turned it into a neat little organizer for my office housing elastic bands, clips, paper clips etc. Best thing is it spins around for easy viewing and use.

Wine Racks

Yes, they keep your wine bottles neat and tidy but I bought one from a garage sale for a $1 and use it for storing magazines.

Leftover Food Containers

Sometimes when I buy something at the store I know the empty container will come in useful. These are some of the items I use for everything from housing craft items to sun dried tomatoes to homemade cleaning products.

Produce Bags

One Christmas I found myself with lots of the orange net bags that citrus fruit is sold in. Now they store most things in the garage, like these tennis balls. I have one for golf balls too. I know lots of people put pet toys in them. Best thing is if they get dirty you can hang them up and run the hose over them. And I know a few people who keep them near the bathtub for their children’s bath toys.

It Used to Be Something Else

Whenever a major appliance bites the dust I always think about what can be salvaged for organizing. I used the bottom rack of a dishwasher for my gardening tools. It keeps them upright, clean, and I can see everything at a quick glance.

I use the small plastic containers from an old refrigerator for storing small packets of food items like dressing and taco seasoning. It’s easy to put them in the cupboard and flick through everything in minutes.

The main thing is to be creative and keep looking around for items that would make the perfect organizerfor your particular needs.

If you’re looking to buy a few store bought organizers now’s the time to do it. Just like diet and exercising most people make getting more organized on their resolution list and hence all the big sales.

And here’s a great organizing site I stumbled upon last month-http://getbuttonedup.com/

And if you need to write things down to get organized, check out these free planners-

http://www.productiveflourishing.com/free-planners/

Here is Georgine’s first post of the year…lots of good advice.

January is White Sale month. This means linens and home decorating items, in addition to storage and closet items, will be discounted. You can rely on stores like , Wal-Mart, and Overstock.com to help organize your home and still help you to stick to your budget. Usually the bigger the store the bigger the discounts.

You will still find holiday leftovers at greatly reduced prices. These will be very welcome next year when you pull them out, and, if you are like me, you’ll forget what you bought and be happily surprised. If you are in stores that take coupons, use them. Just because an item is on clearance doesn’t mean you can’t use a coupon and save even more.

Of course, after the holidays everyone is on a diet! You will find great deals on fitness equipment and diet foods. Sporting goods stores will offer sales and specials.

Winter clothing clearance is making way for spring fashions. Stock up on warm weather-wear, hats, scarves, and gloves. Save some for next year or this year’s guests that come unprepared.

Watch for deep discounts in HDTV’s right before the Super Bowl. A great place to start would be Best Buy.

Just about everyone receives a gift card as a holiday present. While most don’t expire, always read the fine print in case they do and file them by expiration date from nearest to furthest away. Some may lose value after a certain period of time, so be aware. Did you know, most retailers welcome gift cards because, contrary to popular belief that they are “easy money” for retailers, general accounting rules don’t allow merchants to book those sales until the goods and services are delivered? If you received a gift card for a store you can’t use, there are several sites where you can sell your card. PlasticJungle.com and GiftCardRescue.com will pay you 85%-92% of the face value if they sell your card plus they have a partnership with Amazon.com that gives you an extra 5% if you swap it for an Amazon.com gift card. It pays to visit these sites too if you have a gift card and want to purchase something that costs more than the value of your card. Simply buy an additional card from them, at a discount, rather than pay the store the difference in cash. This way you will save on your purchase.

 Always buy gift cards from legitimate sites that guarantee their cards are genuine. Beware of buying on sites such as Craigslist.com that don’t have money-back guarantees.

In the supermarket there will be specials on finger foods and soda. Try to find coupons to go along with the deals. Lots of stores also have canned goods at terrific prices especially if you buy in quantity.

Keep warm; take this time to sort through your coupons. Organize them and toss any that expired in 2011. This way you are always prepared for a sale!

1 box Morningstar Farms Veggie Sausage Links

1 box ready made puff pastry ( I used Pepperridge Farm)

1 box of mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

2 onions, peeled and sliced

1 14 ounce can of stock…I used homemade veggie stock

2 tablespoon, flour, cornstarch or as I used seasoned flour

1 tablespoon butter

some salt, pepper, dried thyme

some oil

Heat some oil in a frying pan and cook the sausage until they’re golden brown. Chop them into bite size pieces and set aside.

Add some more oil and add the mushrooms and cook until golden brown. Add them to the sausages, mix together.

Roll out the pastry. I used two different shapes, one long rectangle and also two smaller round pies. Just fill the pastry with the mixture and bake for about 30 minutes at 375 degrees.

While the pies are baking-

Heat some more oil and the butter in a pan and add the onion slices, add salt, pepper and thyme and reduce heat to medium and let the onion saute until they’re carmelized…about twenty minutes. Add some flour, stir and heat through and then gradually add enough stock to make a gravy.

Remove pies form oven and serve with gravy and some mixed vegetables.

Serves 4.

Here is Marcia’s first post of the year…

With the start of a brand new year, the slate has been wiped clean and we can all put behind us those habits that did us no good in 2011. Like shopping without coupons. Even if you don’t think you have the time to become an extreme couponer, how about resolving to use coupons even just a little more than you did last year? Here are some baby steps to take that will get you on the road to big savings this year.

 Resolve To Use Coupons

The first step to saving more is deciding to be more diligent about clipping and using those coupons at the grocery store. You don’t have to make this a full-time job, but how about committing to set aside an hour, once a week, to pull out that weekly sale flyer and identify products that are on sale that you need.

Next, head online to a coupon database, like the one at http://www.couponmom.com/grocery-coupon-database-10. You can see which coupons are currently available for the products you intend to buy. Finally, gather those coupons. That may mean clipping from Sunday inserts; visiting coupon websites, like www.coupons.com or www.smartsource.com; or perusing the coupons and rebates available through eBay sellers, at www.ebay.com. With the coupons you need in-hand, go shop and watch your final bill shrink.

 Resolve To Track Your Savings

 I think one of the biggest reasons people don’t clip coupons is that they think it won’t have much of an impact on their budget. They can’t imagine that a few slips of paper could yield enough savings to warrant spending the time collecting, sorting, and organizing them. And yet, when they give it a try, many are surprised by how easy it was to save $10, $20 or even $100 at checkout.

 Whether you’re a coupon skeptic or someone who wants to be one of the coupon stars on the TV show “Extreme Couponing,” start tracking your coupon savings more carefully. Look at your grocery receipt each time you shop and note how much you saved. Then deposit that amount in a savings account that is separate from your other bank accounts. In a month or two, take a look at your balance and decide if couponing is worth it or not. I bet you’ll be surprised at how much is there.

 Resolve to be Efficient About Your Couponing.

Although collecting and matching available coupons to products on sale each week does take time, it can probably take even less time than you think. To improve your savings without taking up more of your valuable time, consider taking a new approach this year. That is, go for the low-hanging fruit – the easiest savings – first. That means exploring rebates, which can save you $5-$25 easily in one shopping trip in only a few minutes. I usually check the selection at http://www.ebay.com/, by searching for “Rebate,” and order forms that are valid in my state for products I know I need.

Also, take advantage of free offers at local pharmacies whenever possible, as long as they are convenient to you. Don’t drive 50 miles to pick up a free tube of toothpaste; you’ll spend more than the value of the toothpaste in gas. But do stop by CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens when you’re in the neighborhood and can snag some products at 100% off.

 Resolve to Celebrate Your Accomplishments

Just because you didn’t buy $1,000 worth of food at the grocery store for nothing this week, don’t knock what you were able to accomplish. The truth is, even the extreme couponers on TV don’t save that much on a normal week. So focus on what you did achieve. Did you save $10? Terrific! Did you get 30% of your groceries for free? Awesome! Pat yourself on the back for all that you do save. And this year, let’s all resolve to save more.

I’ve made a few, like throwing zero food away. I’m pretty good about it now but there’s still room for improvement.

I’ll also be making my own gourmet breads instead of paying almost $5 for a loaf I can make for a few dollars, even less…I’ve almost got the cheese bread down to an art!

I’ve attempted this one for the last few years but never got it into full swing…planting and starting a vegetable garden. One of my neighbors told me she’s going to plant one so maybe that will be the incentive I need.

I’m also going to look for more ways I can save, even if it’s a penny here and there as I always say it all adds up.

Here are some of my tips for sticking with money resolutions-

Don’t Start Just Yet

I’ve found if I try something out on January 1st I’m doomed to fail. You need time to adjust to the New Year and also get back into a normal way of life after the holidays. It’s better to put your plan into motion in say mid January or even February.

Start Small

Going on a money diet is a lot like a food diet, tell yourself you have to lose 30 pounds and when it doesn’t happen you give up. Instead of saying I’ll save $100 a month, try $20 or even $10. Once you’ve gained confidence and know you can do it, aim higher.

Don’t Go Too Cold Turkey

Once again it’s a lot like dieting, deprieve yourself too much and you’re soon back to eating fries and candy. Life, even when you’re on a budget is supposed to be fun, so don’t cut out everything that brings you joy.

Make It a Game

I’ve got into the habit of making coupon clipping and finding corresponding sale items a game I play every week for an hour or so. If it’s less of a task and more of a  fun couple of hours, you’re more likely to stick with it, not only for the first few months of the year, but always.

Get a Buddy

Most people are in the same situation now. Everyone is watching their money like never before so why not find someone to be your budget buddy. Maybe you can clip coupons together, carpool to a grocery store you’ve never been before, even cook budget meals together and swap recipes.

If At First You Don’t Succeed…

Setbacks and failure are inevitable but that doesn’t mean you’ll never achieve your goal. Start over and figure out where you went wrong and how you can change things the next time around.

My budget releated article finds of the week-

If you’re looking to make some extra cash this year-

http://shine.yahoo.com/financially-fit/7-things-home-more-valuable-think-215800882.html

Put some of these on your to do list-

http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-113826-11732-1-10-things-you-should-stop-paying-for-in-2012?ywaad=ad0035&nc

And if you have an extra $100 this article has some ideas for you-

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/smart-things-you-can-do-with–100-in-2012.html