Nursery Update: The Rug is Here

So what do you think?  How did I do?

Frugalista Shopping: Week of July 18

To be quite honest, I haven't been all too impressed with the deals and coupon match-ups at my usual digs.  Last week, I even skipped my mainstays and headed to Aldis to purchase some basic baking goods to use with all my garden treasures.  This week, however, I did stop by CVS and Walgreens and jumped back into the swing of things.

CVS

Total Spent: $13.90

Total Saved: $31.19

Total ECB Erned: $7.00

Best Buys:

Maxwell Coffee: B1G1 Free at $5.19 minus $1.00 coupon= $2.10 each

Huggies Diapers: On sale for $8.99 minus $2.50 coupon= $6.49 + earned $3.00 ECB

Schick Intuition Razor Refills= On sale for $8.99 minus $4.00 coupon= $4.99 +earned $4.00 ECB

Walgreens:

Total Spent: $9.12

Total Saved: $7.88

Total RR Earned: $4.50

Best Buys:

Colgate Toothpaste: On sale for $3.50 minus $1.00 coupon= $2.50 + earned $3.50 RR= Better than FREE

Drano: On Sale for 2/$6.00 minus (2) $.55 coupons= $2.95 each + earned $1.00 RR

Yummy in My Tummy: Golden Harvest Bread

I found this amazing recipe in a magazine last summer.  In the magazine, they call it a cake but I think it is more like a bread.  The star of this recipe is the zucchini!  I love planting zucchini in my garden.  They are so versatile; they can grilled, roasted or baked, and they are wonderful in desserts.  My momma always made zucchini bread in the summer.  Actually to be more specific, she made Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread (we wouldn't eat it as well without the chocolate chips). 

So here is my take on an old favorite...

I started off with these gorgeous zucchinis.

I love any recipe that allows me to break out the food processor! Well it just so happens that the grating tool on my food processor is perfect for grating zucchini for bread.

Time to work on the dry ingredients!  Mix the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl.

Add the shredded zucchini.  I sometimes add half carrots and half zucchini for a spin (not today).

Now lets focus on the wet ingredients. Mix together buttermilk, vegetable oil, and eggs.  (I happen to use the same trick that they do over at the pig pen.  I mix together regular milk and a teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar to make buttermilk).

Now it is time to mix the wet and the dry ingredients together.

Now, it's the time you have all been waiting for!  Lets add the chocolate chips.  I mix mine in flour to prevent them from sinking from the bottom of the pan.

I made a triple batch this time.  That way, there is plenty to share.  I'm sure our white trash hillbilly neighbors would enjoy some! I like to use both regular loaf pans and mini loaf pans. Be sure to spray them with cooking spray!

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30-35 minutes for the mini loaves and 45 minutes for a regular loaf.

Bon Appetite!

Golden Harvest Bread

1 cup flour

3/4 cup sugar

2 t. cinnamon

1 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

1 1/2 cups zucchini

1/4 cup canola oil

1/4 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

A Bountiful Harvest

Check out what I harvested from my garden this morning!

Here is what I have up my sleeve for today: Strawberry Rhubarb Jam, Eggplant Parmesan from Ott, A for dinner, and Golden Harvest Bread for dessert (more on this later in the week)!

Looks like I have a fun and relaxing day ahead of me.  I think I will put in my James Taylor CD and get started!

Nursery Update: We are Making Progress!

We have made some real progress to the nursery this weekend.  Although, you probably can't tell by just looking at it.

It looks....empty!  Yes, this is a good thing.  We finally got all the extra furniture out of the room! It looks so much bigger without the spare bed, dresser and all my extra junk!  My HHBL also spent today cleaning the carpet.  It really did make a big improvement!  He actually cleaned the carpet throughout the entire house.  What a stud! 

I also ordered a beautiful rug online from Target.  It is a paisley floral pattern that has green, pink, and a touch of lavender in it.  Hopefully, it arrives within the next couple weeks!

To Do List:

• Decide on window treatments: either curtains or some fabric to make a valance
• Find replacement cushions for a glider

I am still taking any suggestions you might have for decorating the nursery!

FREE Deli Bites from Johnsonville!!!

Johnsonville is having a great FREEBIE right now!  Click here to fill out a quick and easy form to receive a free package of Deli Bites!  I signed up earlier today, and have already gotten an email saying that they will be shipped the week of August 2! 

I would hurry though...they usually only give out a certain number of samples!

Enjoy!

Nursery Decorating Step 1

The first step to decorating the nursery is complete!  The crib is bought, and my HHBL assembled it the day it arrived!

Check out the green paint!  I painted this room just last year and am not wanting to do it again.  I think we can keep it as is and still make it "girly."  Any suggestions on completmentary colors??

TO DO LIST

• Clear out the rest of the furniture!
• Look at crib sheets and sets!
• Find a rug to hide the not so great carpet!