Canning Weekend Recap

Well, if you recall, my husband and I traveled to his hometown over Memorial Day Weekend.  It was deemed our canning weekend.  All the women that were there, gathered together and canned up a bunch all day Saturday and Monday.

Saturday, we canned around 80 pounds of chicken.  I took it all down there, since I found a really good deal.  In that town, they don't always get good deals since they only have 1 big-name grocery store and food has to travel down there, which raises prices.  I found boneless, skinless chicken breasts on sale for $1.69/pound at Food City.  Brett and I went and each got a grocery cart full, stood in separate lines, took it out to the car, and then did it again.  We ended up getting plenty!

We canned most of the chicken in pint size jars, since that equals about a pound of meat (which is what most recipes call for).  On Monday, we canned a bunch of black and pinto beans.

It was kind of a big operation, and I of course, only remembered to snap a few quick pictures, so half of my sisters-in-law aren't even included.  But here is just a glimpse into the weekend!

Here is a peek at my early inventory...

I have since added more black, pinto, and kidney beans for recipes like white/regular chili, pasta salads, Mexican food dishes, etc.  I made my raspberry jam when I found a good deal on raspberries at the Superstition Ranch Market.

Getting into pressure canning and preserving food has been a great learning experience, as well as helping me and my family with food storage on a budget.  Stay tuned, because later this week I will post some tips on what has helped me as a beginner (that would hopefully help you too!).

P.S.
Have you entered the giveaway?!  It's a good one!  Only a few days left to enter!

Giveaway Time (and a peek at my summer uniform) {CLOSED}

Kaylee, owner of Eden's Garden Boutique, contacted me about doing a giveaway, and once I saw her stuff, I was all over it!

First of all, what is more frugal than free, right?  Can't beat that!  Second of all, if you don't end up winning this giveaway, everything she sells is either $10 or under.  Very good price for some darn cute accessories for yourself or for gift-giving.  You'll be hard pressed to find a statement necklace for $10 anywhere else, that's for sure!

Here I am sporting a couple adorable things from her shop...

I spy some cute earrings...

(on sale for $2)

I spy an adorable yellow flower statement necklace...

(on sale for $10)

One lucky reader will get the chance to win this yellow flower statement necklace!

Each reader has 4 chances to enter.  Leave a comment on this blog post for each entry.  

Here is how you can earn entries:

1. become a follower on the Frugal Fashion and Furnishings blog (upper left corner)
2. "like" Frugal Fashion and Furnishings Facebook page
3. "like" Eden's Garden Boutique on Facebook
4. leave a comment telling us your favorite product from Eden's Garden Boutique

Don't forget, leave a comment for each entry on this blog post, so you can have more chances to win!  Giveaway runs from Thursday June 20th to Thursday June 27th (giveaway will close at midnight AZ time).  Winner will be announced on Friday!  Good luck!  So happy one of my readers gets the chance to have a fun new accessory for free!

P.S.
Minimal makeup, hair thrown back, and stretchy skirts and dresses are going to be what I live in this summer!  I do love that these accessories really kick the look up a few notches!  Do you have a "summer uniform"?

gray t-shirt: thrifted {$1.50}

mint maxi skirt: Charlotte Russe {$14.99)

navy and white dress: Last Chance {$12.00}

shoes: Fallas Paredes

accessories: Eden's Garden Boutique 

Father's Day Gift

What did you do for the fathers in your life this year?  My intention was to do an inexpensive "Father's Day Gift Guide", but it just didn't happen.  Were you creative and do something handmade?  Or did you splurge on the special guy?  Did you give him an experience instead of a physical gift?  I want to hear!

We did a combined Father's and Mother's Day gift for my parents.  We gave them DIY instagram magnets and gave them a collapsible high chair from Ikea to keep at their house (since Landon is their first grandbaby and they are just starting their "baby stuff" collection!).

For my husband (aka, the baby daddy), I gave him a couple framed pictures for his desk at work (he often has coworkers asking him to see more pictures of Landon, so he gets to be a braggy dad quite often.  This is to help make it easier for them to oooh-and-ahhh).  Brianna Yardley ran a mini photoshoot promotion for Father's Day, so we got some fun shots for inexpensive!  My mom always did "mommy and me" photos with each of her kids when we were 6 months old.  So this doubled for that as well, since I have yet to do anything like that with Landon. It worked out great--we got professional photographs for really inexpensive, and got to give Brett a fun and unique present.

We had a hard time getting smiles out of this normally smiley baby.
He was just coming off of the stomach flu and cutting teeth...and majorly distracted by the big camera in front of him.

And if you think that I am forgetting my most wonderful father-in-law, I am not.  We made a phone call (too expensive and risky to mail things), since they are currently living in Chili for a mission for our church (but they will be home in January, and we are ecstatic!).  

I've already got ideas brewing in my head for next Father's Day. 

Tomorrow, we have our first giveaway, and it is a good one.  You should be excited and check back in tomorrow!

A Simple Recipe: Whole Wheat Muffins

I love food that is flavorful and delicious.  However, I often find myself reverting back to those simple, easy comfort foods that are full of flavor, yet tried-and-true.  Sometimes they are the best recipes, it is why they have stuck around so long! 

As delicious as some things might be that are pinned all over pinterest, I don't know how many of the trendy "nutella" recipes will be used frequently in 20 years (except for slathering it on bread or bananas--surely that will stay around).  But I betcha anything, this recipe will be!

I love, love, love my mom's recipe for bran muffins.  It makes a huge batch (I usually half it) and the batter will last in an airtight container for up to 1 month, in the fridge.  But, it calls for quite a few ingredients, which I don't always have on hand. 

A couple months ago, I was skimming through my Allred Family Cookbook (I got it upon marriage into the family--pretty good deal, if I say so!).  I came across this simple, small recipe that my sister-in-law Kami submitted: Whole Wheat Muffins.  I tried it, and loved it!  They are simple, easy, and make a batch of about 12 muffins.  I've made them a few times since.  I'm sure you could add some fruit (fresh, frozen, or dried) or nuts to customize your muffin.  I haven't yet, so I can't give you any advice on that.  But the plain ones are delicious.  Add a little butter into an ooey-gooey hot muffin, and side it with some fresh fruit and orange juice.  This recipe has become a regular in our house.



Whole Wheat Muffins:
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup milk (can use powdered milk)
1 cube melted butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix dry ingredients together in medium sized bowl. 
In large measuring cup combine liquid ingredients.
Stir just until moistened. 
Spoon into greased muffin tin.
Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
Makes 12 muffins

Kami recommended to just slightly undercook them so they are a little gooey, which I do and it is yummy! 

What are your favorite, simple recipes?  Tell me, I want more in my repertoire! 

Favorite Spots Around Town: Liquidators

My friend Angela told me about this place.  Brett and I decided to take a peek, and I can tell you I will be popping in every once and a while.  Especially if we are in need of new electronics (Brett's favorite), because they have amazing prices. 



I don't know tons about this place, other than they have pretty much everything at steep discounts, many things (if not everything--I'm not sure) is from Costco. 

They had lush carpet area rugs for $60!  Not sure if you have looked into buying an area rug recently, but that is literally a steal!  They have home décor, electronics, clothes, small and large appliances, food, and anything else you can imagine. 

I forgot to snap pictures in the actual store, but I took some of our purchases.

Location: Sorry for those who viewed this originally, I forgot to add the location!  This store is located off of Alma School and University, behind the Fresh and Easy.  It is one of the only things in business in the entire strip mall.  Hope you get the chance to go take a look at it sometime! 

I got these pillows for $12 total.  Normally one pillow like this would, at the minimum, cost $12.  So $6 each...I was happy with that!



And Brett got these Docker's flat front panel pants for $10 (and another different pair, too!).

I mean, these pants are so durable, he can even do work in them--like feeding the chickens.  (Ok, so really I just like snapping pictures of his toosh--so don't tell him I posted this, he'd be really embarrassed.  He's a pretty modest fellow, that husband of mine).

And since they decided to disperse during the above picture, here is a glimpse at our chickens.  We currently have 8.  Which means lots of eggs will be coming our way soon!





Using up Produce

Over our marriage, I have gotten better about not wasting as much food.  Sure, I still have to throw stuff out.  I am sure I always will.  But I have significantly reduced it.  And what we do toss, either goes to our compost pile or chickens (some stuff makes it there inevitably--like egg shells or the mystery meat that got lost in the back of the refrigerator). 

But before that spinach goes limp and soggy or those tomatoes get mushy and leaky--give this a try! 

Homemade omelets!  They are the perfect, filling, easy meal that can use up the produce that is on it's way out.  Of course, don't use rotten food, but your leftover bits of what you planned on using for previous meals/salads/etc. that might not get used up otherwise. 

Brett is the omelet master.  So I, of course, allow him to have lots of involvement when we eat them (score!). 



We usually use a little bacon, sausage or ham that is frozen, but you don't have to.  If we do, we cook it up in a skillet and reserve some of the grease for when we make the omelets (not-so-healthy, but oh-so-yummy!). 

Then we chop up whatever produce we have leftover, the meat we prepped, and grate some cheese (we use all kinds).  Of course, these also are great "planned" meals too, as in you can purchase the ingredients with the intention of making omelets. 

 

 

So pretty, right?  Told ya he's the omelet master!

 



Here are ideas for omelet ingredients (this is not a comprehensive list, by any means):

produce:
garlic
onion
broccoli
potatoes (already cooked/baked and cubed)
tomatoes
spinach
bell peppers
olives
mushrooms
avocado (topped after it is cooked)
fresh or dry herbs (cilantro, basil, parsley, etc.)

cheese:
cheddar (we love extra sharp!)
Monterey jack
pepper jack
mozzarella
swiss
feta

We like to top it off with sour cream and salsa or ketchup, if it's available in the fridge. 



While we cook, Landon munches on ingredients (like mozzarella cheese and bell peppers).

What do you do to use up leftover food before it goes bad?

 

My friend, Libbie, uses her leftover food to make nachos which is a great idea, too!





Summer Accessories: 3 for Under $3

It's always fun to revamp a few things for a different season.  When it starts hitting the triple digits here, I need something to help me get geared up to deal with the summer heat. Here are a few accessories I found for $3 or under...

I snagged these adorable sunglasses, at the Dollar Tree for $1.  I was quite shocked at what a good selection of cute sunglasses they had.  I never spend tons of money on sunglasses.  They always get broken or lost.  And it is fun to justify having a couple pairs, which you can do if you get them for a bargain.





I also bought this new lip shade for 93 cents at Wal-Mart, and I have been loving it!  I wear it almost everyday.  The eclectic shade of pink is a fun and nice change (it doesn't look as bright here as it seems to be in real life).







I picked up the nail polish at Target, for $2.49, after Brittany inspired me with a comment on my nail post.  I am pretty sure this will be my go-to summer color from here on out.  I never thought of this color, but I kind of love it. 



sunglasses: Dollar Tree

lip color: NYC #316 "Blossom"  

nail color: Sally Hansen #270 "Lacey Lilac"

 

These would be especially fun splurges if you are heading to the beach anytime this summer.  Have a good start to your summer--on a budget, of course!