Freezing Eggs

This is how ya do it:

Crack your eggs into a ice cube tray. 1 egg for each tray compartment. Break the yolk and mix up. After the eggs are frozen put them into a freezer bag.

Use the frozen eggs in whatever you would need a beaten egg in. Omelets, quiche, scrambled, breakfast casseroles, you get the picture.

Maybe if I start to feel super ambitious this weekend, I will find and post some recipes to use the eggs in.

No promises though. I have a ton of cleaning to do before DH comes home for his week off, and I dont like housework.

It is 5:25 a.m.

What the hell am I doing awake?

Its none of the usual reasons I am up at the butt crack of dawn. The kids are still asleep, the dogs were sleeping until I opened the door, it wasn't too hot or too cold.

I don't get it.

Things you can/can not freeze

I *just* discovered the Hot Coupon World forums this weekend. If you want to join and want a referral, use peachykornkitten!

I have learned sooo much about couponing and stockpiling. Yes, this has become a little of an obsession.

I didn't know you can freeze
-Flavored Coffee Creamer
-Tortillas
-Eggs
-Canned biscuits
-Lunch meat
-Go-gurt
-Plain Yogurt

And and I didn't know you shouldn't freeze
-Anything with mayonnaise in it
-Sour Cream
-Flavored Yogurt
-Block cheese you plan to slice

Mac and Cheese

This is my all time favorite recipe.

Macaroni & Cheese

8 oz dried elbow macaroni (2 cups)
2 tbl butter or margarine
2 tbl flour
1/8 tsp black pepper
2 1/2 c milk
3 c cheddar cheese

(The original recipe calls for 1/2 a diced onion to be cooked with the butter, but it wasn't as good so I tweaked it.)

(You can also add a can of diced and drained green chilli's for a little kick.)

1)Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain & set aside.

2)Meanwhile, for cheese sauce, melt butter. Stir in flour and pepper. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir over medium heat until slightly thickened and bubbly. Add cheese, stirring until melted. Stir in cooked macaroni and transfer into a 2-qt casserole dish.

3)Bake uncovered at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and heated through. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving to thicken. Serves 4

This can be prepared one one day and baked on another. Follow steps 1 & 2. Cover casserole dish and refrigerate. Just uncover and pop it into the oven for an extra 10 minutes when you are ready to serve it.

Red Bull Fridays

Yummy. Red Bull.



I used to be addicted to this stuff, back when I was working as a truck stop waitress on the graveyard shift. (Sounds like a Country song, sorry) I would drink coffee and Red Bulls (the large size) all night long and then go home, play with Monk Man for an hour and then go to bed.



I cut back on drinking them when I found out I was pregnant with Bobblehead. I went from maybe 4 a night to 2 or 3 small ones a week. Eventually I cut that down to 1 a week.



Then Bobblehead was born and I was back to drinking one every day. After about 3 months, they quit working.



Now I only allow myself 1 Red Bull a week. Only on Fridays.



Sometimes, if I have to make a long drive like 3 hours to the Valley or 8 hours to Grammy's in Colorado, I will drink one during the drive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Why only on Fridays?



Fridays are usually when I get to stay up past 9 p.m. since I don't have to be up at 6 a.m. to get ready for work.



Sometimes I stay up and watch T.V. or play the Playstation2, other times I clean, take a bath, or just dink around on the computer. Some things are just easier to do without little boys crawling all over me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So what is in store for this Red Bull Friday?



I am borrowing my carpet shampooer (yes you read that right) from my FIL. The carpets are starting to smell like feet and formula. I cant stand it anymore.



So as soon as the boys are in bed, the carpets will be cleaned for the first time since it was installed (or laid, whatever) last September. Gross.

Yesterday's Bargain

So I posted earlier that my Safeway is remodeling and has tons of stuff on clearance.

Well, I went yesterday to pick up the stuff for last night's dinner (which was delicious btw) and happened to wander back down the clearance aisle.

They had a table full of McCormick spices. For $.049 each! I got 2 of everything I use.

They were VERY close to the expiration date (expires next month) but as soon as I got home from shopping, I threw them all into the freezer.

I remember reading somewhere that its ok to use spices after the expiration date. I would just have to use a little more than what the recipe calls for since they lose their potency. I am totally fine with that. Its not like I am a gourmet cook or anything.

Tonight's Main Dish

QUICHE

1 pkg. crescent rolls
3 eggs
1 c. milk
1 c. grated cheese
1 c. ham or bacon

Place crescent rolls in pie dish. Mix eggs and milk in blender. Pour into crust. Add cheese and meat. Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes.

Tonights Dinner

BATTER-FRIED ZUCCHINI STICKS

1 c. sifted flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 c. milk
2 tbsp. oil
1 lb. zucchini, cut into 3 or 4-inch sticks
Additional flour (optional)
Oil for deep frying

Sift flour with baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Combine egg, milk and 2 tablespoons oil. Slowly add to dry ingredients, beating until smooth. Pat zucchini sticks very dry and if desired dredge lightly in flour. Dip pieces, one at a time, in batter. Fry in deep oil heated to 375 degrees until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with more salt, if desired.

Trampolines

Saturday, I jumped on a trampoline for the first time in probably 10 years. (I think I was 16 the one and only time I had ever been on one.)

Whoah. I new I was out of shape but I had no idea I would be this sore the day after.

So today I was telling Hubbs about how much fun Monk Man and I had and he told me to price them. He said that a trampoline would be good for me.

Wait. What? Is he calling me fat?

Just kidding. He also said it would be safer than the swimming pool I wanted. I totally agree with him. I do need to get into better shape and what better way is there? I have never stepped foot in a gym, I don't do exercise. But I would really like to try yoga some day.

Anyway, I am getting sidetracked.

I am getting a trampoline! I have ALWAYS wanted one. My mom never would get us one because she was afraid of us falling off and breaking eachother.

Yay! Now I need to find a good deal.

I asked Hubbs if he was having visions of me trying to buy one with a coupon. He didn't reply, so probably.

I should have waited

Remember my post about paying $7.00 for dog treats?

Well I opened my Sunday coupon insert and guess what was there?

2 save $1.00 off Milk Bones.

Figures, right?

Well at least I can save a little money and stock up on them this time.

Blogger Pride

I was wasting time yesterday and I ran across the google store.

As I was checking out what all the stuff, I ran across this blogger T-shirt. And of course, had to buy it.



Cute huh! It is 70% bamboo and 30% cotton.



A small step in being more Eco-conscience.

I feel so special

I have been tagged by The Virtual Voyeur



So, 7 things about ME.



1) I have a phobia of feet. Gross. I don't like to look at them, mine included. God help you if you try to touch me with yours.



2) Hubbs and I eloped. We went to Vegas and had to bring our next door neighbors with us. Not only as witnesses but because we needed them for directions.



3) My boobs are fake. I had them done when I was 20 because from the neck down I looked like a boy. They helped my self-esteem more than I could have imagined.



4) When I was growing up I wanted to be a Rockstar. I still like to dream about it but I wouldn't pursue it anymore because that isn't the lifestyle I want my boys to grow up with.



5) I have 1 tattoo. I got it when I was 19 and my mom paid for it. I want more!



**Wow! Thinking up 7 things about myself is harder than I expected.**



6) My 2 favorite bands are Nine Inch Nails and Maroon 5. Yeah, that IS a very odd combination. In 3rd place for favorite is Robbie Williams.



7) My mind is like a sponge. I am full of useless information. Mostly music and pop-culture trivia type of stuff. I am the master at Trivial Pursuit but I cant get anyone to play it with me.



And now I am tagging the following 7 bloggers.....

1) Fix-It-Mommy

2) Woman In Pink

3) Meg's Mommy Journal

4) Serving The Queens

5) Delightfully Pink

6) Bitty Bird

7) Famille Eternel


Stop by the comments section and let me know how utterly grateful you are that I tagged you!

On a Bargain High

I went to Safeway last night after work because I had a cereal coupon that was expiring today. Our Safeway is remodeling and rearranging everything so things are all moved around and it looks horrendous but I found some amazing bargains.



My clearance aisle finds:
active yeast packs
Playtex nipples
Suave conditioner
bubble bath
Gerber fruit puffs
And tons more


I didn't buy everything that I wanted because I was in a hurry. But today after work I am going back.


I also got stuff with my coupons.
4 boxes of General Mills cereal for 6.00
1 Air Wic Night Light (free) and 2 refills for 4.50
And tons more

The only thing that I bought that I didn't have a coupon for or was on clearance was dog bones. Oh. My. Hell. Those things are expensive! But they are the only way I can get the dogs to come to bed and not roam the house all night.

So my total before coupons and Safeway card? 89.95
Total after? 62.68
I saved 31.01!!!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE coupons. I have been saving sooooo much money. I am so happy I have started to figure this coupon thing out.

Another Entertainer's Death

Now Issac Hayes? (He's the guy that sang the Shaft theme song.)

What. The. Hell.

Here is an article about it.

This is getting out of hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a happier note, today is Monk Man's first day at a real Day Care. He is soooo excited.

Oh No!

Bernie Mac died this morning!

Normally I don't get sad about celebrities dieing but I really liked Bernie Mac.

Here is a link to the cnn.com article.

Looky what I did this weekend

Ugh. I caught the cleaning bug again.

I am exhausted! But I did get a lot done.

My Stockpile in progress: Its so organized and pretty!


My baking stuff, spices and bread


My Fudge making stuff


Under my sink


The rest of under my sink



The storage in my "Office"


More of my "Office"--Who else do you know that eats THAT much Ramen Noodles?



Another shot of under the sink


2 1/2 empty shelves!


The hall pantry is being cleaned out for all my appliances. Like the crock pots, the deep fryers, the coffee machines, extra dishes. Notice everything is a plural? When we had our wedding shower we received a lot of duplicates. All that stuff is spread out all over our house. I have a deep fryer in my bathroom cabinet, 2 sets of good occasion dishes in my bedroom, you get the idea.

It makes me feel really good about myself that I am actually (finally) getting one of the things done that I had planned on doing while Hubbs is gone.

Sorry

I have been slacking on my blog (and everything else it seems).

Yeah, yeah, I suck.

Real life has been dragging me away (kicking and screaming) from my tropical Internet island.

I promise I will post something decent soon.

Post # 100

Wow. 100 posts already.

Post 101 is in the works.

Astrological Signs

Ok, I looked up which Astrological Signs the boys are.

Monk Man is a Taurus (like me) and Bobblehead is a Libra.

This is what Babycenter says about the compatibility of their signs.


Born Pleasure-Seekers
Taurus and Libra

These two children are born pleasure-seekers. It could be tough to get them moving when you want them to complete their chores or their homework, but when it comes to family time, both Taurus and Libra bring a lot of sweetness and enjoyment to the experience.

Both of these children need lots of affection, little Libra perhaps even more than his sibling, so prepare to dole out many hugs and kisses throughout his youth. Since Taurus tends to hold grudges and Libra avoids confrontation whenever possible, you may have to mediate spats that would otherwise turn into extended sulk-fests.

In general, though, these two get along well, because they're both good-natured and young Libra wants harmony with everyone. If Taurus is the elder of these two, he considers it his responsibility to protect his younger sibling and keep him grounded -- a much-needed influence for idealistic little Libra.

Looks like I am in for an exciting childhood.

Baby Center Horoscopes?

Has anyone checked out the Babycenter Horoscope thingy?

I did. I am a sucker for any kind of "new feature". I am a little embarrassed to admit that I don't know my children's astrological signs so as soon as I figure out what they are I will blog about what Babycenter's Horoscope says about us.

So this is what it told me (in black) and whether or not it was correct or not (in blue):


About the Taurus Parent
Patient, Practical, and Purely Indulgent

As a Taurus parent, you provide a wonderfully grounding influence in your children's lives. Practical and patient, you're always ready with a smile and a hug when a child needs one. You have a good sense of what truly matters, so you rarely get worked up about nothing.
I am not very patient. And I get worked up about EVERYTHING.

No, your main fault as a parent has more to do with indulgence! You're a pushover when it comes to your kids' requests for cake, ice cream, trips to the movies or the amusement park... Hey, you just want them to be happy, right?
Yeah, I do want them to be happy. I do give in too much and my boys are a little spoiled.

Still, use common sense to make sure they eat good foods and get enough exercise. That shouldn't be much of a problem, though, since you're naturally connected with the earth. You enjoy a variety of healthy, natural foods, and you love sharing meals with your family. Taking a walk together after dinner will benefit your family's physical and emotional health.
Healthy foods? What is that? We eat a lot of quick dinners (the easier, the better), lots of sugar loaded cereals, lots of fried stuff but we have cut way back on the fast food. I do like to eat dinner at the table together. And being "naturally connected with the earth" is correct. I would much rather spend time outside than inside.

Your kids are likely to be quite secure in your love. You're affectionate and enjoy cuddling with your little ones. You'll teach your kids all about the essential Taurus values of loyalty, hard work, and endurance.
True, I am very affectionate with the boys. I love hugs, kisses and cuddles. And also true about loyal, hardworking and endurance.

You enjoy being surrounded by the people, pets, and things you value most, so your family home is most likely a cluttered, colorful, and comfortable place. Just make sure to be flexible when your children do and say things you don't expect. Stubbornness is one of your famous flaws, but children need open-mindedness as well as stability.
True, true, true about the cluttered home. Not dirty but messy. Me? Stubborn? Never!

Books

I borrowed this from Mom on the Rise.

According to The Big Read, the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books on this list. How many have you read?

The instructions:
Look at the list and:
Blue font=you have read.
Green font=you intend to read.

1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2. The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4. Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6. The Bible
7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8. 1984 - George Orwell
9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11. Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12. Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14. Complete Works of Shakespeare
15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18. Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19. The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20. Middlemarch - George Eliot
21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchel
22. The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33. Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34. Emma - Jane Austen
35. Persuasion - Jane Austen
36. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40. Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41. Animal Farm - George Orwell
42. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44. A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46. Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48. The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49. Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50. Atonement - Ian McEwan
51. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57. A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65. Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66. On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68. Bridget Jones’ Diary - Helen Fielding
69. Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70. Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72. Dracula - Bram Stoker
73. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74. Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75. Ulysses - James Joyce
76. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78. Germinal - Emile Zola
79. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80. Possession - AS Byatt
81. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83. The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87. Charlotte’s Web - EB White
88. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92.The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94. Watership Down - Richard Adams
95. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98. Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

Books read? 20
**In my defense, most of these were read in High School. Lately it seems that if it wasnt written by Stephen King or part of the Cat Who series, I havent read it. Hey, where ARE the Stephen King books on this list!?!