Honey I Shrank Our Spending!

I have not seemed to get much traffic on my new blog. Thought I would remind all of my followers of this blog about my frugal blog. I have a lot of new post about saving money and great deals, coupons etc. Come visit me at Honey I Shrank Our Spending!

I am also now the Frugal Mommy writer for Busy Mommy. You should come visit it is a great website with a wealth of information!

Book Review -The Outsider

It's been a long time since I have done a book review. My reading has been slow. I am in the mood to read now, I don't know if it is colder weather or what, but I am interested! I hope to do more reviews soon. So Stay posted!

The Outsider by Ann Gabhart is a book set in Kentucky at a Shaker village. The main character was brought to the village after her mother decided to join the Shakers and it is all of the world that the young girl knows until a fire happens at the village and she meets a doctor. From that time on she begins to doubt her Shaker beliefs. This is a love story.
I really enjoyed this book. I seem to like to read about the Amish and this one fits right in there with learning about a different religion. It was interesting to see how the Shakers lived and their beliefs and struggles. This book reminded me of The Believers by Janice Holt Giles, which I also enjoyed!

Lorie's Frugal Idea Notebook 11/18

My Frugal Idea Notebook is where I store all the ideas I get from other blogs on the web to help me stay frugal. This week I am focusing on Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas and I found some really neat ones on the topic!

1. $5 Cake Mix Basket from The Grocery Cart Challenge (I want to make a few of these!)

2. Last Minute Gift Cards from Buzzings of a Queen Bee (I'm always needing a quick card too!)

3. A Romantic Frugal Gift from Betty Beguiles (I want to do this with my husband!)

4. Gifts your kids can make from One Krusty Mama (My kids would love to make these!)

5. Homemade Sugar Scrubs from Thrifty Jinxy (I know a lot of women who would love this!)

6. No Sew Fleece Blankets from Mom on the Go (Cheap if you have some extra fabric on hand.)

7. Giving to Charity from "Cents"able Mamma (I like to give during the holidays, here's a way that won't cost much.)

8. Using Bowls as Gift Baskets from Wildwood Mama (I have seen these on clearance and never thought about that use!)

9. Cheap Family Christmas Gifts from Curves with Attitude (I love this idea of involving your whole family!)

10. Leaf Candle from Generation Cedar (This looks like a fun project!)

11. Free Stocking Stuffers from Are We There Yet?

12. Christmas Gift Basket Ideas from Frugal Ideas From the Parsonage (This is alot like what I am doing this year!)

Halloween

Menu Plan Monday Nov 3rd-7th

Well, it's been awhile since I have planned my menu for the week. I know that planning is so important and could be one of the reasons I have not been doing as well lately! So, here I am back in full force to get back on the menu planning wagon! Fall is here so that means lots of great soups for me! Comfort food!

Breakfast

Oatmeal, fruit, hot herbal tea (3 days)

Low fat waffles and fruit, hot herbal tea (2 days)

Omelets, fruit, hot herbal tea

Scrambled Eggs, hot herbal tea

Lunches

Refried Bean Soup (2 days)

Cheesy Vegetable Soup (2 days)

Leftovers
Tuna Salad with fruit
sandwich, fruit
Dinners
Doritos Casserole, salad
Crockpot Potato Soup, Jiffy Cornbread
Easy 1 pt Chili, Cornbread
Pizza, salad
Scrambled eggs, sausage links, biscuits
Chicken Corn Chowder, garlic toast
Spaghetti Casserole Bake, salad
Desserts/Snacks
Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies (I'm making Chips Ahoy Dessert with them!)
Wendy's No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
Chex Party Mix
Fat Free Rice Krispie Treats
98% Fat Free Microwave Popcorn

Go here to see more plans.

Menu Plan Monday September 8-14

This week, I am going to start something new. I am going to have a soup and sandwiches night and a breakfast dinner every week. These are two really cheap meals to help keep the cost down. So, I am going to be trying some new soups! Come back for the recipes as I make them and post them throughout the week. I am still doing Weight Watchers Flex plan!
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Dinners
Spaghetti Casserole Bake, salad
Soup (Cheesy Vegetable) and Sandwiches, Yum Yum Muffins
Corn Dog Casserole, salad, Chips Ahoy Dessert
Breakfast Dinner, fruit
Pizza Cups, salad, Quick Zucchini Bread
Crockpot Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti, salad, Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies
Stovetop Meatloaf Muffins, green beans, mashed potatoes, rolls, Fat Free Rice Krispie Treats

Breakfast
Waffles, fruit, yogurt
Baked Sugar Doughnuts, fruit
Chocolate Chip Pancakes, fruit
Omelets, fruit
Eggs, Biscuits, sausage links
Cereal, yogurt, fruit
Waffles, fruit

Lunch
BLT Sandwiches, fruit
Leftover Pasta Bake, salad
Broccoli Soup
Sandwich and fruit
BLT Sandwich, fruit
Find What You can (hopefully leftovers)
FF Hot Dogs, tater tots, corn
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Go here to see more plans.

First Day Preschool