Week 52!

                                                                            Week 51 (Save $51)
                                                                            Week 52 (Save $52)

To my devoted readers:

I would like this opportunity to thank you all, who have been following my blog for the last 52 weeks... that means you would have saved an extra $1,378... Congratulations!
  
May this New Year brings you a peace filled life, warmth and togetherness in your family and much prosperity!    

 

For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice.  And to make an end is to Make a Beginning.          T.S. Eliot

                                                                   ENJOY !

Christmas Wishes

                                                                                           Week 47 ( Save $47 )
                                                                                           Week 50 ( Save $50 )

 

I don't want much for Christmas.  I just want the person reading this to be healthy, happy and loved! Wishing you Snowflakes, Friendship and Winter Cheer!

 

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Hot cocoa on a stick

                                                                            Week 46 ( Save $ 46 )

I hope my absence has not stopped you from saving away weekly.  I am back and I hope to finish week 52 and looking forward to 2017 so we can start saving once again. 

Here is a super easy gift you can make during the Christmas season or anytime, chocolate has NO season's :) 

Recipe for one cocoa stick

1/4 cup of chocolate chip or merkin's chocolate melts 
small dressing container ( available at dollar store size: 1.5 inch high )
1/4 cup mini marshmallows

wooden long coffee stir sticks
cling plastic wrap
small clear gift bags (big enough to hold cocoa stock)
optional: tiny cupcake muffin liners

white card stock
black fine sharpie marker
hole puncher or a sharp pencil

Wipe and polish the inside of the small container with paper towel. This process will ensure the chocolate to be shiny and glossy once it molds. 

Melt the chocolate either over a double broiler or microwave . Pour the melted chocolate into the small container. Fill to the top. Cut a small piece of plastic cling wrap enough to wrap the top of the container.

 
Stick the stir stick through the plastic into the chocolate.

Allow the chocolate to set either at room temperature or in the refrigerator.  Once the chocolate is set. Remove the molded chocolate and set on muffin liner or clear gift bags.

Fill the clear bag with 1/4 cup of mini marshmallow (or more) 

Cut a tag to desire shape and write a simple instruction: "Stir into hot milk"

 
Punch a hole in the tag and tie to the kit.

Pair the hot cocoa stick with a store bought mug. Makes a great super quick gift anytime!

* All the ingredients and supplies can be found at your local dollar stores.








                                                                  

 ENJOY!

We Will Not Forget

                                                                                                   Week 41 ( Save $41 )

                                                                                                   Week 45 ( Save $45 )

 

 

 

 

Granola-ing

                                                                 Week 36 ( Save $36 )
                                                          Week 40 ( Save $40 )


I was never a big fan of cold breakfast cereal's as a child nor do I try to eat it today. Yes, I know, "breakfast is the most important meal of the day".  I have been having alternative hearty choices outside of the cereal box.  Whether it be left overs, home made soups, fresh fruits or old fashion oatmeal.

Over the years, I have discovered my all time favorite oatmeal,  taken to a alltime new level...revamped into granola. Now I cannot get enough of it because the combinations of homemade granola are endless. Who can ever be bored!

Every combination is delicious and so fresh. Super easy to make and cost less than store bought granola.  Eat it by the handful, with milk, or on desserts.

 Get granola creative by combining your oats, nuts, seeds and dry fruits, chocolate optional.  There are so many variety of nuts such as cashew, peanuts, almonds, pistachio's, just to list a few.  My favorite seed combinations are pumpkin and honey roasted sunflower seeds. The perfect balance of sweet, salty and crunch! 

The next question will be should I add dried cranberries, raisons, dried apples, blueberries, dates, apricots or cherries ...decisions, decisions.



Here is a basic recipe but add your twist by combining your favorites with less or more:

Combine in a large bowl :
2 cups of oats, 1/2 cup of nuts, 1/3 cup of seeds, 1/2 cup of dried fruit, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon,  1 tsp of vanilla extract. dash of salt, 4 Tbsp coconut oil (optional) , 1/2 cup maple syrup or honey. 

Mix well and pour into parchment lined pan. 
 
Bake at 300 F for 30 minutes and stir every 10 minutes.  Cool completely and store in either big chunks or break down into smaller pieces into air tight container at room temperature for two weeks.

                                Keep Calm and Keep Granola-ing!

 

 

 

Fall's Marvelous Mums

                                                                          Week 32 ( Save $32 )
                                                                          Week 35 ( Save $35 )
                                                               

Gorgeous Chrysanthemums, garden mums, hardy mums or just plain old "mums" are a symbol of fall.  With it's rich shades of spectrum of colors and varieties of shapes. They can fill any garden with instant color whether it be borders, containers or anywhere!

When buying mums, select tightly closed buds that show small bit of color...it's much nicer to know what exact color you will be bring home! It's nice to buy full bloom of instant color and seasonal but if you are hoping for a "hardy" true perennial it may not may not happen. Mums sold in garden centres in the fall have been coaxed to bud for the fall to bloom meaning all the energy has been inputted into the plant to bloom and not growing the roots.

The mum's in my garden have been blooming in late summer into the fall for the last three years and it always puzzled me. 
"Are mums perennials?” the answer is a distinct yes—and no....?

I was told that my mums have established its roots and considered truly hardy. They survived the sub- zero winters year after year.  Is it just luck or did I do something right for once? They are confusing plant groups with so many botanical names. They are perennials, but their survival depends on when you get them and where you live in the Zone.

There is a trick to getting those beautiful fall bloomers to over winter successfully. Perennial mums require excellent drainage and early planting.   Add compost no matter what type of soil you have to the beds and planting hole. This will ensure the mums gets a good snooze and root protection through the cold winter months. Do not prune even if it turns brown.

Early planting means the earlier you put the spectacular mums into the ground the better!  But if the winters are too cold where you live or you did not plant them earlier enough.   Bring the mums into the basement or a dark closet and water well. The plants will hibernate for the winter and check to make sure the roots are weekly damp.  In the spring, slowly acclimate the plant to light daily.  Place the plant in the garden after the last frost.

If this perennial process sounds like it's too much work, then just treat them as annuals. There is no guarantee that the plants will survive the winter even if you have taken the steps to sufficient winterize them.  If they do survive, it's all worth it at the end when the different shades of yellows, oranges, maroons and reds pop up year after year for you to enjoy!


Tips for fall flowering: Just pinch the plant back periodically throughout the summer.  Start pinching when the plant are 4 to 5 inches and repeat every few weeks until mid July. This will cause the plant to grow bushy and by late summer it should be covered with flower buds.