Before and After Pics

November 2008~Before 194.5 pounds (how did I get so unhealthy?!)

After 167~ April 17th

Since taking this picture on the 17th, I have lost 5 more pounds! I am at 162 today!!!! Total inches lost 18.
Good news, I am down two dress sizes so far, bad news, I am down 2 cup sizes too.

Menu Plan Monday 4/20-4/26

Breakfast~
Mall pretzels
pancakes
smoothies
yogurt parfaits
sausage biscuits

Lunches~
Leftovers
Salad
tuna and crackers
pb&j
quesadillas

Dinners~
Thai peanut turkey burgers with home made potato chips
Salad and baked potato bar
Burgers and dogs, mac & cheese, sweet potato fries
Home made stromboli and breadsticks
BBQ Chicken, grandpa's potatoes, corn
Cherried Pork loin with rice pilaf, and roasted beets

100th POST!!!

I made it to 100! To celebrate I am giving away a $10 gift card and a copy of my Family Favorites Cookbook.

Leave a comment with a link to your favorite frugal recipe and your email address to win a $10 gift card to the store of your choice and a copy of my Family Favorite Cookbook!

Winner will chosen by random on Saturday the 18th.

Safeway Living Well Promotion

Second transaction
Huggies 29.99 -$1.50 mailer coupon
Skippy 2.50 -$1.00 catalina coupon
I also used my previous $10.00 catalina coupon and $10.00 of catalinas from the Bertolli sauces.
Total OOP $9.99~

First transaction
10 Bertollis $2.00 each - 5-.75 coupons and 5-1.00 coupons
2 Dreamfields pasta $2.00 each- 1.00 printable coupons
and one package Bounty 6.99 no coupons
Total OOP 20.24 and I received $20.00 in catalina coupons .

This is my favorite sale of the year at Safeway! You can find more details here.

Home Made Pop Tarts

I found the recipe here. I used cherry jam, and a triple berry jam in mine. The kids liked them. I might make them again, not sure they are worth the effort!

Mall Pretzels

I found this recipe almost a year ago! My kids found it my recipe binder last week and begged me to make them. The kids gave them 2 thumbs up. They are easy to make too!

I found the recipe here.


I made them much smaller, I cut my dough into about 36 pieces. I rolled it out to about a foot long and then made the pretzel shapes. It is easiest to shape them all, then dip them all at the same time.

The Best Sugar Cookies

I found this recipe in an old church cookbook. I love my sugar cookies thick and moist. This recipe is the best one I have ever made. I made a few changes to the recipe, it is perfection now!

Sugar Cookies
1 1/2 cubes butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup sour cream (I used plain yogurt)
2 tsp vanilla or lemon flavoring
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
4-5 cups flour
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl Cream butter, sugar together. Add eggs and yogurt and mix well. Add dry ingredients one cup at a time. Dough will be soft and moist. I found it easier to work with after chilling in the fridge over night. Roll into teaspoon size balls and then flatten slightly before baking. Bake at 375 for 8-10, until just lightly brown.

Easy Icing
juice and zest of one lemon
1 can of Betty Crocker Fluffy white icing

Mix together and drizzle over cooled cookies.

(We prefer them with no icing at all!)