"On The Money" Meals!

It's time for another Bi-Weekly Meal Plan! I have been slacking in posting my meal plans regularly. This time I created a unique plan that uses up leftovers and makes use of the freezer. I have tried to take plenty of pictures to show how I prep for my meals after my big grocery shopping trip.  Some might think that shopping once every two weeks is difficult, but all you need to have is a plan. You need to freeze meat according to portion size, use produce wisely, and plan it all out ahead of time. Shopping every two weeks saves you so much money. When you go to the grocery store once or twice a week, you will spend more money on impulse buys, or buying without a list, therefore buying stuff you don't really need. I spend around $160-$180 every two weeks for my family of 4, and this is including paper products, cleaning products, and personal hygiene items. Sometime I need to figure out how much I spend on groceries only and share it with you.  So, lest I go on and on,...

I get these ideas and they just won't let up until I can actually do them. My mom calls these "getting a bee in my bonnet". Well, I had a bee in my bonnet yesterday. This was our main bathroom when we moved in. These were the seller's towel and shower curtain.They had obviously updated a few things in this bathroom. But there is no window and it is very dark and dreary in here. Also, the paint was in a flat finish which shows up every dirty mark and imperfection. Plus, I just hated the color. It looks grey, but it's like a greige. I call it the color of cement. Blech. So yesterday I had had it. The seller left the paint they used and there was a full gallon of the semi-gloss extra white they had used on the baseboards, doors and trim. I love the look of bead board in bathrooms when it goes up about 2/3 of the way. But we weren't messing with that right now. I was hoping I could get a similar effect by just painting the walls white 2/3 of the way...

This is a another warm and comforting soup for these cold winter days! This one requires a little more prep than some soups, but it's not hard, and the results are worth it! I adapted this from a regular Ham and Potato soup and loaded it up, just like you would a baked potato! Loaded Baked Potato Soup 6 strips of bacon 1/2 tsp minced garlic 3 1/2 cups peeled and diced potatoes 1/8  tsp celery seed  1/3 cup finely chopped onion 3/4 cup diced cooked ham 3 1/4 cups chicken broth 1/2 cup water 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste 1 tsp pepper, or to taste 5 TB all-purpose flour 4 TB butter 1 TB bacon grease 2 cups milk 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 2 TB sour cream In a large stew pot, cook strips of bacon. When done, place bacon on paper towel lined plate to drain. Drain grease, reserving 1 TB bacon grease for later. Don't clean pot. Add chopped onions and cook for about 2 minutes until it just begins to soften. Add potatoes, c...

In our old house we had a very small bedroom. By the time you put the bed and dresser in there wasn't much floor space left, but I wanted bedside tables. I found two bar stools at a yard sale for 2/1.00 or 2/$1.50, I can't remember. They had a black vinyl cushioned seat that was torn and a plain wooden bottom.  This was our old master bedroom.You can see the floor space I had to work with but these tables fit perfectly. My husband cut two 12x12 pieces of cheap wood for the top. Then I simply hot glued them on! Yes, I'm not very good with a drill, so I just used a hot glue gun. And they have remained glued throughout three moves and about 3 1/2 years. You could use a drill and just screw these boards into the bar stool seat. I did not take the seat off. I spray painted the stool with coral colored spray paint I found at Michael's. I wrapped the ledges with twine, using hot glue to secure them. My husband then cut 4 pie...