Friday, January 30, 2015

Frugal Friday With Marsha -- Great Northern Bean Soup

Awhile back my friend treated me to an evening out to the Bluebird Bookstore for their test kitchen event.  At this event they highlight several of their cookbooks for sale by lettings us test a recipe or 1 from each book.  They also give us their review of each cookbook and then offer  20% discount for any cookbook we purchase that night.

One of the cookbooks was Mrs. Sundberg's Kitchen.  The recipe they shared was Great Northern Bean soup.  The lady rattled off the ingredients--2 cans of great northern beans, ro-tel, canned corn, and chicken, topped with shredded cheese. 

I didn't buy that cookbook, but I did make the soup at home and will be making it again this week.

This is the 'recipe' that I use:

2 lb bag of Great Northern beans (cooked in the slow cooker with some salt, pepper, and garlic salt)
Once the beans are pretty well cooked I added 2 cans of Ro-Tel and one can of corn.
I then added 1 lb of cooked boneless chicken--cubed.

I didn't put any liquid on the beans other than enough water for them to cook in.  I serve it with shredded cheese to top it.

This soup is SO good!

(I can't find the picture that I took from the first batch, but once I cook it again, this space will have a picture)

My mom always gives me bags of beans from her government commodities foods.  I have (or had) an over stock of cans of Ro-Tel in the cabinet thanks to sales and coupons making them free.  I always stay pretty well stocked up on canned vegetables, also thanks to sales and coupons.  I buy the 3 lb bags of boneless skinless chicken breasts (preferably when they are on sale) and generally cook it all at once and then divide it into 3 parts in the freezer. 

I did want to buy the Mrs. Sundberg's Kitchen cookbook because it's full of what I call every day foods recipes.  Those are what I want.  Instead I bought a Six Sister's cookbook, for the same reason, plus is has 52 menu plans and other goodies included.
I am highlighting both cookbooks below.






Thursday, January 29, 2015

Writer's Unite 1/29/15

I thought I would give my update on the challenge that I was taking part in on bubblews last week.  7 days of writing 6 posts with a minimum of 10 interactions in between each post.
Money was and still is little.  Each day I made a penny or 2 more than the day before, but on day 7 I was still only up to .42 for my efforts.
With that said, I need make some new connections, and reconnected with users that I had lost track of.
I am back to writing 3 posts a day.  3 days now and I've made just about .25 for each day.

Still writing on bubblews, but my heart isn't in to it like it once was, of course. 
Honestly, I'm earning about the same on TSU and I am enjoying myself there immensely.  I also don't feel like I have to be on TSU the entire time that I am on the computer either.

I had the opportunity to write a paid blog post this week.  Those don't come around very often and tend to make me nervous whether I will do a good job for them.  It went well and my invoice is sent in, along with tax paperwork.
I have a guest post coming soon too.

I look forward to any writing you choose to share with me and my readers this week!




Wednesday, January 28, 2015

WIP Wednesday 1/28/15

I didn't get the binding finished on the quilt that I posted a picture of last week.  I didn't choose to take another picture of it, but I plan to finish it before next Wednesday.

At quilt guild this week we had our annual work day for charity.  This year we made walker bags to donate to the physical therapy department at the hospital. I bought a couple home to finish.  This is one of them.




I worked some more on my blue hexagon table topper.  Blue is this months scrap challenge color with the so scrappy blog.  This month is almost over.  That means that I shouldn't just stop working on this table topper, unfortunately, I probably will put it aside.  And there you have the why to me having so many projects in the works!



Last week I posted how I had run out of the fabric strips I had prepared for my locker hook rug so that it was being put to the side for awhile.  It so happened that very day a lady in my stitch group had picked up some fabric strips from a free box.  She gave them to me.  Monday at quilt guild, another member who had read that I needed more gave me 2 more bags full!   I did indeed work more on the rug.  I had actually hoped to finish it by now, but I still have a ways to go.

Oh so many things to work on and so little time! 

Here is my current UFO list, which keeps growing instead of shrinking!

UFO's:

Rectangle quilt
challenge wall hanging
GoodNight Irene quilt/wall hanging
Yo-Yo Table runner
Emerald Island Fusique table runner
Five and Dime quilt
Fractured Pineapple quilt
Charming Stars quilt
Brown half square triangle quilt
? sets of doll blanket, pillows and rug
Hexagon flower table runner
re-do binding on blue and peach patchwork
lockerhook rug
Blue hexagon table topper


I am linking up with the following blogs this week:
WIP Wednesday at Freshly PiecedWIPs on Wednesdays
Soscrppy

PS I Love You

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

UnitedHealthcare is Here to Help You Learn More about Healthcare and Open Enrollment


The more you know about the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the better off you are. Open enrollment for 2015 ends on February 15th, so there is still time to act.

Do you know what the changes are? The ACA has raised the medicaid limits in some states so that more are eligible. They are also offering subsidies to those whose income is above medicaid limits but are still struggling to get coverage. See just what open enrollment is all about and why it matters to you. You need to use the open enrollment time frame to get the proper healthcare bought and set for your family. The exchanges, or the marketplace, is a website that allows you to compare plans from a variety of providers, just as Travelocity allows you to compare travel costs. You can either use the Healthcare.gov website, or your states individual marketplace website.

UnitedHealthCare.com has put together UHCTV just for you to learn through. They offer a wide variety of videos to help you learn, answer your questions, and help you make the choice that is right for your family.

I have chosen a few of the videos to share with you here.

This video is a guide and tips on comparing health plans:

It's important that you know what the deductibles, co-pays, premiums, and maximum out-of-pockets are as well as what is covered when you are comparing health plans. What do you see the doctor for? What prescriptions do you have? etc. This video on the 5 Myths and Factsabout Health Insurance may help you. What does it all mean? This Health Insurance Glossary video will help you with the terms and definitions. Finally, how do you get the most out of your health care plan? This video goes over choosing a health plan. These are just a few of the videos that you will find on UHCTV! Once you are on the site, click from the menu at the top to find all the videos that are of interest to you.






Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.

Monday, January 26, 2015

All Business Monday--Establishing Routines

Image: License: CC0 Public Domain
Free for commercial use / No attribution required
 
 
I have a problem.  That problem is establishing routines

I really like to do my blog posts in the morning before I do anything else on the computer.  This post is usually put up Monday morning, not later into Monday evening.  However this was a Monday that I had to be out of the house early and gone for the day.  So, here I am.

How can I establish any work routines when my activities are scattered?

Sunday mornings are always church.
Every Monday and Friday is one of my merchandising jobs--no set hours, just the days to do it.
Every Tuesday morning is Bible study.
Every Friday I clean our church.

1st Saturday of the month is Sampler at the quilt shop
2nd Monday of the month is quilt guild board meeting and quilt show meeting.
2nd Tuesday of the month is sewing club from 10-3 (I skip Bible study this day and go to the basement to sew)
2nd Friday is sit n' sew at the quilt shop from 6-10 pm
3rd Tuesday is ladies lunch from noon -2
3rd Wednesday is stitch group from 1-3
3rd Thursday evening is church council
4th Tuesday evening is family bingo night
Last Monday of the month is quilt guild 9-noon
Once a month during the second half the month I choose the day I do one merchandising job.
Once every other month in the second half of the month I choose a day for another merchandising job.
 
Throw in something always unexpected, or any additional appointments and my life is chaos.

I'm glad to have my planner to keep all of these regular things as well as my appointments, and appointments of others tracked!

Today I am going to highlight several choices of planners designed by some of my online friends:


Redbud Floral Planner Planner
Redbud Floral Planner Planner by Susang6
Browse other organizer designs on Zazzle.





Sunday, January 25, 2015

Super Sunday Reviews--Fashion Crochet

fashion crochet
30 crochet projects inspired by the runway
by Cheryl Mongomerie

ISBN 978-1-78097-430-9
Published by Carlton Books

Hard Cover 176 pages.

fashion crochet has 30 crochet projects within 176 pages.
The book has 4 sections: Wraps & Scarves, Accessories, Dresses, Skirts & Shorts, and Tops & Jumpers.
Also includes an introduction, Practicalities, Resources & Supplies, Index and Acknowledgements.

Of the 30 patterns, it’s a mixture of basic, intermediate, and advances skills. A good mixture of all 3.

There are a lot of nice projects. I would love to make so many of them. The crocheted clothing has made a come back.

My favorite section in the book is the accessories. There are collars, necklaces, corsages, hats, bags, and even bangles.

The instructions are easy to read. Drawn illustrations that show what stitch goes where on the more intricate patterns. Most all of the patterns are shown in different versions and color ways.

If you like to crochet, I recommend this book. I also recommend it as a gift for those on your list that are “crochet-addicts”

Below are a few pages from the book as well as the back cover.









Disclaimer:  I received a copy of fashion crochet from the publisher for the purpose of this review. I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions are my own.
Pictures shares in this lens are scanned from my book, and used with permission for the purpose of my review.
This post contains affiliate links.





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