~Giveaway Winner~

I had wanted to post about my intended project where I was going to use this:

but a sore shoulder threw a wrench into that plan. I was in so much pain on Friday and Saturday that I begged my husband to amputate. I broke my arm last year while mountain biking but this was more painful. I am off to the doctors today for my x-ray results and then I hope that I can attack my to-do list.

But.... the moment you have been waiting for......drum roll please..... 

the winner of the Reco pasta serving bowl from CSN stores

#35


Congratulations Merrie L.!

I will contact you via email to get your information to pass onto the powers that be at CSN who will ship you your bowl. 

Enjoy! (Lucky duck)

Thanks for all who entered my first giveaway.

 I might have to do more, it is true: giving is far better than receiving.

 It was nice to "meet" some of my loyal followers and welcome new ones. 

Do Not Say There's Nothing To Eat

... is a phrase I often tell my kids.  You need to learn how to make a meal from flour and water if need be.  Yes, there may not be anything ready to grab out of the fridge or ready made sitting on the pantry shelf ... but as long as you have a little flour and water ... you will eat.

Ann, my twenty year old college student (living at home), got out a spiral notebook this morning.  She said she wants to know how to do certain skills before she moves out.  Maybe she hasn't taken the time to be very observant ... or maybe I've always just done too much .. whatever, I was so tickled that she wanted me to teach her how to make things before she leaves the nest.  Here's a sample of what's on her list:

• make good salad dressing (ranch & vinaigrette)
• make a good pot of soup
• make stock 
• make stew
• learn how to package food for the freezer
• learn to make cleaning supplies
• learn to read labels on foods
• BBQ tips
• only wash full loads of laundry
• make beef jerky
• homemade hamburger patties
• homemade cheesy biscuits
• homemade pancakes/waffles

She's already gotten the run down about debt for the past few years and will enter the world with no student loans or credit card debt ... or a car payment; she seems to have relaxed a bit (just a bit) about taking ownership of my old soccer mom van that is hers if she pays insurance, gas and registration.  It's not pretty ... but gets her from home to school to work and home again.  Today she made the buttermilk dressing and discovered that it's more cost effective to do full loads of laundry ... the sting of paying higher utility bills is hitting home for this daughter of mine ... finally!   (So what did we make with flour and water ... Parmesan-herb bread sticks to dip in the yummy ranch dressing ... Thursday is grocery shopping day ... we're at the bottom of the barrel.)

Everything Soup

The past two weeks I've made some pretty good soup with already made chicken stock I have in the freezer as the base.  Then to be super thrifty I add leftover rice or pasta along with some carrots and whatever leftover little bit of veggies we have in the fridge.  Add some dehydrated onion/garlic ... and herbs.  Last week I added frozen garden zucchini and a little bit of cooked pinto beans ... with some Mexican seasonings ... the kids just raved about the soup and didn't mind that they were eating up the leftovers ... Of course I told them about the leftovers AFTER they started raving about the soup;)  Watch out Campbell's Soups... Mrs. MacFrugal is cutting out a bit of your profits ... and feeding her family food without JUNK preservatives and loads of salt.  Do you have a way of incorporating leftovers into a 'new' and exciting meal for your family?

Image from here

10 Design Tips for Decorating a Balcony

I love sitting at the balcony with a good book and a pot of tea Sunday mornings. It sets the mood for the rest of the week. It's like you're watching the rest of the world as they go about their day. Bliss. And it's about to get better with the tips below.




Article taken off http://landscaping.suite101.com

Condo and apartment balconies often go unused. Even worse, they end up as an extra storage space for bikes and cluttered junk rather than being used as an outdoor living space. But with a little creative planning and a little elbow grease a balcony can be turned into a beautiful outdoor paradise.

10 Design Tips for Decorating a Balcony

Gather some seating - A balcony can be seen as an extension of the living room. Adding a few key furniture pieces can make a balcony seem warm and inviting. It's important to consider the size of the balcony before purchasing patio furniture. If the balcony is small, choose a couple chairs and a small table. Bistro sets are perfect. Target offers a number of affordable bistro sets. Add some design flair and color with patterned, weather-resistant cushions. For larger balconies a patio table and umbrella makes for the perfect getaway. With comfortable seating balconies can easily become a great place for entertaining guests.

Add some greenery - A balcony is outdoors after all. Therefore it should look like the outdoors by bringing in some green. Plants are also the easiest way to decorate a dingy balcony. Planting pots work great for balconies because they are often design elements all on their own. If space on the ground is limited, then think hanging flower baskets and planter boxes on the balcony railings. These are perfect because they take up no actual space on the balcony itself and still add loads of color and greenery. Be sure to choose flowers that are appropriate to the amount of sun or shade that hits the balcony.

Lay outdoor flooring - Bring part of the living room outdoors. Outdoor carpeting is a great way to define a space and to detract from the cement balcony floors. Outdoor carpets come in a variety of colors, are inexpensive and can be custom cut to fit any size. Carpeting can make the balcony feel more inviting and allow kick off your shoes and relax.

Create mood lighting - If an electrical outlet is available on the balcony, stringing a set of party lights on the balcony railing is a great way of bringing light to the patio, allowing you to enjoy your balcony late into the evening. If an outlet is not available then candles also do the job effectively and inexpensively. Look for some decorative outdoor lanterns at your local garden center.

Plant an herb garden - It may not be possible to grow an entire vegetable garden from an apartment balcony but a small herb garden is certainly not out of the question. Dedicate a corner of the apartment to some small, decorated pots containing favorite herbs. This not only adds color to the balcony but also provides an enjoyable hobby and some delicious herbs for gourmet cooking.

Put up a privacy fence - If your balcony is not very private you might consider purchasing some privacy screening. Bamboo sheets can be purchased at your local garden or building center. They provide some well needed privacy and also work great in the overall design of an outdoor oasis. Even if you already have privacy walls, placing bamboo fencing against the existing brick or cement walls can completely transform the look of the balcony.

Bring art outdoors - Art doesn't have to stay in the living room, try bringing it outdoors as well. Look for weather-resistant, outdoor art pieces that can be hung on a balcony wall. There are a variety of metal and wooden wall art pieces that are meant for the outdoors and will add some style to the outdoor living space.

Add outdoor sculptures - If hanging art on the balcony walls is not permitted then think of art pieces that are freestanding, such as garden statues and structures. Obviously choose pieces that fit the size of the balcony. These are great for adding personality to a balcony and can easily be swapped in and out to keep the space looking fresh. A self-contained water fountain is another idea. The sound of running water provides a soothing atmosphere.

Hang some wind chimes - Wind chimes belong in any backyard or balcony. They are things of beauty, provide pleasing chimes, and also take up minimal space on a balcony. Bamboo wind chimes are quite popular as they produce a lower pitch and provide a more tropical feel to the balcony.

Grill it up - If allowed, purchase a small barbecue for the balcony. A barbecue can easily become the centerpiece of the balcony. It allows the balcony to become a place of gathering and entertaining with friends and family. Char-Broil's Patio Caddie is the perfect choice for the balcony as it takes of minimal space.

Mr. Mac(Frugal)'s Thoughts

... about a financial diet:  What started the whole topic of becoming debt free in approximately twenty-one months ... there's a possibility that his job will be absorbed by a larger city entity (in 2012) and he'd have to be retrained as a police officer all over again.  His current gig is just a filler job since his official retirement from another dept. two years ago after a twenty-plus year career.  Our original goal was to be mortgage free in four years and he'd retire once again with another small pension.  But this is probably not going to happen.  We have a monthly pension ... plus his 'gravy' job.  Now at the age of fifty-nine, he's just not going to go through anymore field or physical training to be 'absorbed' in a bigger city's PD.  With that said ... a financial diet will be in order.  We can live comfortably on his pension ... even with a mortgage payment ... but how much the better would it be to be financially free.  Scrimp and save for the next year and a half ... to be rid of any debt.  Now with that said and 'out there' ... he and I will be working out a strategy to remain financially sound AND debt free.  He actually brought up the subject of a budget when he got home from work last night.  Here are a few steps we will make this week:

• pray about our situation
• discuss what expenses will be 'cut out' with our adult kids
• write out a monthly budget (clean start each month)
• use cash or debit card for purchases
• use our old envelope system for cash purchases
• review what household expenses will be axed

Stay tuned for a monthly progress report.  

Image:  Free.Foto.com

Photo Frames For A Creative Home Decor Accent

Photo memories are an important part of a travel experience. It never happens so, that we are on a holiday and we have not packed in our cameras, or for that matter, have not taken a single snap while vacationing. We all just love to click photos and freeze every single moment of fun and merry making. So, why not frame these photographs in a beautiful way and live the moments of happiness long after we're back from holidaying? Photo frames make great home decor accessories. They not only lend a stylish look to homes but also reflect the creative side of our personalities. Here are few ideas on how to make innovative photo frames:

Framing adds depth and originality to the end product and tells more of a story on your photograph than if you just frame it and hang it on the wall.

Credit Card Debt ... A Nation of Debtors

I have no accumulated credit card or car payment debt.  The past decade or so Mr. Mac and I have always used cards sparingly and ALWAYS paid them off each month.  With that said, I have played along with the 'use' of credit to get bonus points or monetary refunds at the end of the year.  Today, I'm going to talk with Mr. Mac about cutting up the cards and going back to using only cash or our Visa Debit(Credit) ATM cards.  It will be a good cathartic effort towards being completely debt free in just a few years when our mortgage is paid off.  Gone will be my bonus mileage points that seem to disappear before I'm ready to use them ... or figure out HOW to use them.  Gone will be my Costco/American Express card that lures me into the giant arena to buy a pathetic box of organic butter or bananas each week.  It's time to examine exactly where the grocery savings is going now that we have cut that expense by 1/3 to 1/2 each month.  Too many gimmicks.   Too many games.  I want to live as though each dollar hubby brings home is well divided:  Giving/Savings/Spending.  And all the extra will go to getting rid of the last of our mortgage debt ... and continue teaching our grown kids about being/becoming financially fit to weather the hard economic times that are still ahead.  I'll report back on Mr. Mac's thoughts;)

Graphic credit here

A Good Economic Foundation ... from The Frugal Housewife

The following excerpt is from about 1830 but still has some 'life' in it that is valuable for instruction.

In light of the current world wide financial crisis, a lot of which stemmed from over borrowing and living beyond one's means, let us reexamine the past so we can learn and go forward teaching our children how to save for a rainy day, thus saving them from repeating the mistakes of the current generation.

To associate with influential and genteel people with an appearance of equality, unquestionably has its advantages; particularly where there is a family of sons and daughters just coming upon the theatre of life; but like all other external advantages, these have their proper price, and may be bought too dearly. They who never reserve a cent of their income, with which to meet any unforeseen calamity, 'pay too dear for their whistle,' whatever temporary benefits they may derive from society. Self-denial, in proportion to the narrowness of your income, will eventually be the happiest and most respectable course for you and yours. If you are prosperous, perseverance and industry will not fail to place you in such a situation as your ambition covets; and if you are not prosperous, it will be well for your children that they have not been educated to higher hopes than they will ever realize.  The Frugal Housewife

My Very First Giveaway~

I have been blogging for almost 6 months now, not quite but almost. It has been a fun journey and what I love the most is being inspired by all the talent that I have met along the way. 


So.....


 What a great way to celebrate than have a giveaway! 


Recently CSN stores approached me to do a giveaway....
(Lucky you, as I have yet to win a giveaway - I have entered many but nothing...sniff)


I thought to myself, what perfect timing.


If you have ever stumbled across any CSN online store you will know that they have a multitude of online shops that sell kids bedding,  furniture, cookware, and even pet furniture! I spent a whole afternoon just browsing through their many sites.

 What I stumbled across were all the pretty dishes they sell. I love pretty dishes and feel you can never have enough dishes in the house.  


CSN stores are offering this lovely pasta serving dish by Reco as a giveaway prize. It comes in a variety of colours. 

I like it in red, but it also comes in green and white. If you are the lucky winner you could choose the colour. Not only could you serve pasta in this bowl but use it to serve up healthy salad greens, display fruit on the kitchen counter, serve popcorn on movie nights, or use it to hold keys. 


Think of all the possiblities....

How to enter: so simple and easy.

1. For one entry, leave me a comment, telling me how you would use this bowl.

2. For another entry become a follower or if you already are, let me know!

 Make sure you leave a comment each time you enter.

Don't forget to give me your email if there isn't a link in your profile so I can pass along the prize to you!

I will take your entries until 7 am (pst) March 31 (Wednesday). I'll choose a winner at random and announce sometime on Wednesday.

This is open to both US and Canadian residents.

Living Room Space Utilization In A 2BHK Apartment

Recently moved into a 2BHK apartment? Finding it difficult without a separate study and a kid's room? No worries. See in your living room area a perfect problem solver.

First of all, paint the walls white to give the room some more depth. Create a central sitting area with sofa sets encircling a center table, and go in for vibrant upholstery to set the mood right. A pair of sophisticated recliners further adds to the charm of your relaxing zone. Or else, you can also go in for a large bean bag.

For study table and book shelves, make use of the walls and the corners intelligently. Opt for furniture that have sufficient built-in storage space. An all-inclusive wall cabinet not only solves your problem as in where to fit in your idiot box, but also serves the dual purpose of storing your books as well crockery.


Now for the kids, accommodate their small study table with the built-in blackboard in one corner of the room. Else, just make space for their piano if you think a table for kids would add to the clutter.

Let your lounge flow freely into your dining area. Just erect a standalone wooden showcase to create a partial divide. Or, you can place the dining table along in the passage that leads up to your kitchen. It is a great way to use available floor area effectively. Be wise lighting wise. Hang in some beautiful pendant lamps and wall sconces to highlight the specific areas.

So, now you have a perfect living room area to revel in. Live, make fun, and have a great time! After all, a family that jives together stays together.

For some more ideas, refer to IKEA 2010 Catalog.

Sneak Peak~

I was planning on running errands today but those plans were waylaid with a frantic call from the husband.

He left his trade convention invite card on the front hall table, and after being unable register online I kindly offered to drop it by his office. 

What a kind wife you say? 

No, I had other motives. 

His office is next door to Ikea and my favourite fabric store. What fun places to get hopefully get some inspiration. I never actually made it to Ikea (I bet he is glad for that) but spent an hour in the fabric store. I sent the store on a wild goose chase looking for this fabric: 

{photo via Sweet Nothings}

Why is it so hard to find good fabric here in Canada? Maybe someone out there knows how I can come across this fabric here in western Canada. I am afraid that I might not be able to afford it though because it is hard to find it might come with a price tag, I did buy a lottery ticket.

After seeing burlap ALL over blog land I decided buy a few meters. It was only $2.98/m and thought why not? I feel the need to re-cover something and I have just the project in mind. 

If I have moment this weekend between soccer games, birthday party for my now-turning-14 year old daughter and nursing my almost 40 year old shoulder (I injured my rotator cuff in an ab ball class - I know you are thinking ab ball? Somehow I attempted push-ups and that was the end of me!) I might finish my intended project. 

Come back next week to see if I actually got around to it!

Don't forget tomorrow I am having my first giveaway!

All Things Buttermilk

When you have a continual supply of cultured buttermilk at your disposal ... and you want to keep it fresh by recharging a new batch each week ... it's good to have a few recipes to make use of it.  We often include buttermilk in fresh/frozen fruit smoothies ... and it's a great addition to homemade bread dough.  Today I'll post my recipe for buttermilk pancakes.

Best Buttermilk Pancakes

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 teaspoon aluminum free baking powder

1/2 teaspoon aluminum free baking soda

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1 tablespoon organic cane sugar

1 large egg

1-1/2 cups buttermilk

2 tablespoons melted butter

In a large bowl combine dry ingredients.  In a separate bowl mix the buttermilk and egg ... slowly whisk in the melted butter.

Cook on a lightly oiled hot griddle (med-high heat- use a little butter or 1/2 tsp bacon drippings if you make bacon).  Test the griddle with a drop or two of water ... it should sizzle/dance.  Using a 1/2 cup ladle, spoon the batter in rounds on the griddle.  Cook until they just start to bubble and are a tiny bit dry around the  edge.  Flip and cook on other side.  Keep warm in preheated oven until all pancakes have been cooked.  Serve with maple syrup. Makes about 8-9 6-inch pancakes.

Photo credit:  Carl Larsson 

How to make cultured buttermilk

Use Recycled Aluminum Home Decor Items For A Sustainable Tomorrow

Aluminum recycling is no more just mere buzzword. It has become a way of life for many of us today... BUT, not for all of us yet. In many parts of the world, people are still ignorant about this process and its significance in ensuring a sustainable development. They are yet to know that even the smallest effort from our end towards energy conservation today can make a huge difference for our energy needs tomorrow. By recycling aluminum or by using recycled aluminum products we can do our own bit. So, let's start doing it right now. Start including recycled aluminum products in your daily home decor items. They will not only make your home look more stylish but will also reflect your personality as an eco-conscious modern individual.

Log in here to explore the world of recycled aluminum crafts.

Choose Paint Colours Like a Professional!

Neutral or "wow"? Here's how you can decide.

Yard Clean-Up Day

Sometimes I think it would be nice to have more property ... but after a long workday such as hubby and I had today ... our 1.9 acres is plenty.  Most of the landscape is natural.  Our homestead is carved out of a nice little forest spot.  Being natural .. does not mean less work.  We had to clear brush (noxious weeds) today along the driveway.  Our neighbor has the start of a big burn pile .. so we heaped some of the debris on his pile.  Last year he said it was fine with him ... so we just added to his heap this year.  The rest of the weeds piled up will get burned Tues. and Wed. if the nice weather holds out.  It's grueling work  ... but now the property is starting to look spruced up.  Tomorrow we'll be at it again cleaning up another section.  I gave our front flower beds a good once over trimming dead growth from last season.  Soon the lawn will need to be aerated and de-thatched; for this job, I'll hire someone with the right equipment.  Our sprinkler system will be recharged at the end of the month. 

The veggie gardens are 3/4 finished with all of the prep work.  Hubby shoveled a third truckload of compost yesterday.  This should be enough to give some good balance to our otherwise clay soil.  The topsoil was removed in this particular area when our lot was graded prior to building our home. 

I'm checking into making a small-medium sized adobe type oven for the backyard.  Always something to investigate ... but the idea of having an outside oven for bread baking is stirring in my brain;)

Hawaii~

I had a wonderful time in Oahu with my oldest daugher. Actually, she hardly acknowledged me as I was the dreaded chaperone mom. We had a few photo ops in front of the ocean but for the most part she lived it up with her best friends. I was glad she had the time of her life. I just enjoyed the view and eating fresh pineapple. 

 What was breathtaking were all the vibrant  colours that were everywhere. Hawaiian scenery is eye candy. The ocean was a gorgeous turquoise, the flowers and plants full of reds, pinks and vibrants oranges. The colours were inspirational, I vowed that when I got back I was going to add more colour to my home. I tend to stray to "safer" colours such as black and white when I decorate my home.  I find they are classic and predictable. But, without breaking the bank I hope to add pops of colour with accessories such as throw pillows and artwork around the house. 

This will require baby steps. 

One of my decorating idols is Jenny from The Little Green Notebook. She is like that girl in high school that you always wish you were brave enough to be. She uses such vibrant colours in her home and in her clients' homes. I hope I can be as brave as her. Time will only tell...

 Here are some photos I took on my trip that hope to inspire me.

Oh, by the way....

Come back Friday, I am excited to be announcing my very first giveaway!

Decorate Your Room With Mirrors For An Instant Polish

Want a way to catch and refract light in your home? Nothing does it better than a mirror. Mirrors illuminate dark corners of a room and add elegance and drama to an area by creating the illusion of space and depth.

Mirrors can be used as a work of art as well. Just that you would have to choose the frame carefully keeping your home decor style in mind. As with your artwork, choosing the right frame for your mirror makes a world of difference. The frame adds to the look of the mirror and enhances the space around it.

There’s a mirror for every taste, for every style of home decor. Whether your home is ultra chic or ultra classic, there's a staggeringly large variety of mirror shapes, sizes, and styles to choose from. Just pick the one that goes with the ambiance of your home. Rest, the mirror will do it on its own.

At One With Nature With Beautiful Wicker Furniture

Furniture has come on in leaps and bounds over the last few decades. It's no longer the same old heavy-weight, highly expensive furniture that one thinks of while doing up his/her home. There are more styles in furniture now than ever, and you have more viable options to choose from to make your home look stylish than with the obvious wooden and furniture. One such furniture type that has gained immense popularity in this age of instant gratification is wicker furniture.

Made from a wide variety of natural materials such as reed, rattan cane, rash and willow, wicker or cane furniture represents a versatile way of home styling. It is rather nature's answer to your well being and prosperity.

For present-day homemakers who are almost constantly on the move, cane furniture surely makes one of the wisest investments - being light in weight it can be moved easily from one place to another.

You can use cane furniture for your living room, study, or bedroom or even for decorating your garden area and patio. It blends in with almost any surrounding very easily bringing in an instant natural freshness and elegance to the place.

Log in here to discover the startlingly beautiful world of wicker and rattan furniture.

Give Your Home An Elegant Loft-Style Feel

Lofts are known for being bright, uncluttered, and modern spaces. Even if your apartment, or house isn't actually a downtown loft, it's still possible to outfit a living space to feel sleek, urban, and full of modern design. Here are ways to get a loft feel in any space, whether it's a traditional loft or not:

A classic loft accessory that contributes to the open feel of the space is open-sided cabinet that can be dually used as a divider.

An oversized graphic art piece is a good decorating option if your apartment has high ceilings.

Usage of exposed ductwork and pipes evokes the feeling of repurposed and recycled living.

Some beautiful antique pieces may serve as an additional décor accent.

Modernize a room design with loft-inspired lighting.

Add pops of color like orange, bright green, or red in graphic artwork or in home decor accessories.