Gettin' started with party plans

Well today is a hot day. Just sent the baby off with daddy for a bit so I could get my bbq meatballs into the oven and get the grill started for cheesy hotdogs made with Ball Park angus bun legnth hotdogs. Going to make some noodle roni also because I can.

Yesterday I checked my buzzagent site and I finally got a survey for chewing gum; something we here are pretty profeciant on! I buy most of my gum in bulk at Sams club, not to how often my children and my husband purchase all kinds of gum. I'm VERY excited and I am keeping my fingers crossed I am choosen to do a campaign.

On the other "store front", we are working hard to get ready for the babys first bithday party & family gathering! Cleaned out the pole barn for now and got a jump on my shopping list & MY menu. The only thing I still have to do reasearch on is a cake and pricing. I just don't want to spend a fortune but I do want something cute (NOT from Giant Eagle).

So my big plans? Well, I realize a one year old could care less and this is why I am doing all of this as cheaply as possible! The theme for the party is "barn-yard bash" in keeping with her theme in her room. I have been purchasing many items from garage sales here and there. Not to mention the foods I have goten from the salvage stores the last month or so.  I still have to find hankercheifs (you'd think that one would be easy) and I have to purchase hay bales. I have much of the decorations made (instructions on my pintrest under "party ideas").

What's on the menu? Well, right now it looks like we will be bringing out the big smoker and slow cooking pork roasts for pulled pork. I also am making a cold creamy italian salad, cow pies, pizza dip, bacon ranch pasta, Beans deluxe, brown sugar smokies, cake cones, Venison ranch burgers, peanut butter hay stacks and maybe more! Yes, I will do it all myself as usual..... I did it for my own wedding!!!! lol I asked my mother in law to make her famous potato salad (its by far the best ever and the only one I like to eat).

Wow?! lol

groceries on $100 a week

A stay at home mother of 3 children and 3 boxers I have had to really tighten our grocery budgets. Thanks to my mother in law and her sister, I am hooked on finding the fantastic deals at our Amish salvage stores. Every 2 weeks I take any left over budget and shop to get scratch, dent and discontinued products that our Amish are able to purchase and resell for VERY cheap. I bring home $300 plus of groceries, health and beauty, tax and general merchandise for under $80!!! I am educated in my pricing to know that I CAN sometimes get products else where (other than these salvage stores) for less as well. For example: some grocery stores carry Pampers and Huggies (as we know, very exspensive). The salvage stores resell these items for around 15+ which is good. However, I know I can get a case of diapers (parents choice) at Walmart for less than this!

Same with dryer sheets, Salvage stores may sell that snuggle dryer sheets for $1.99 (again, a great price) but I can get an off brand at Dollar tree for only $1.00. **mind you, I can reuse these dryer sheets after soaking them in softner in a mason jar, for one more use!

I know I have said it before, but as an educated consumer and a former grocery retail manger I know all the tricks of the trade. This is exactly why the rediculous Walmart commercials really irratate me! I realize that there ARE persons out there who beleive anything that they see and would fall for their price compare (against Giant Eagle) commercials are fact. What they won't show you is that here in NE Ohio, Giant Eagle Doubles coupons up to .99! Add this to their sales with their Giant Eagle Advantage card and you CAN save more than what Walmart can/will match. Given the knowledge that what you spend will also go toward earning money off your fuel at the Giant Eagle Get-Go gas stations! When you use your "fuel perks" and get that price of fuel to go down on a fuel up (and in some cases a totaly free tank of gas), you earn "food-perks" which is a percentage off your total grocery bill the next time you grocery shop.

Now I realize, this doesn't always work. You DO have to really pay attention to prices, dollars off and more. I personally only purchase non-necessity foods etc at Giant Eagle if I can save 60% or higher!

Here in NE Ohio, there is literally no way to honestly save money and be one of those persons you see on that "Extreme couponing" show on TLC.... But to feed a family of 5 persons and 3 dogs on $100 a week, I think I do pretty dang great!

Another Baking frenzy...

Strawberry bread.... This made me actually like fruit!

Beer-spice cake.... This is by far my most favorite recipie for cake, EVER! Yum!

Bzz.... Pork Homemade

Yes, this is bean soup with sausage (pork)! It was fantastic.... This is my own spin on a recipie.... Couldn't get enough and can't wait to make it again

www.bzzagent.com

Ok, so today I tried once again to figure out this bzzagent campaign thing. Not sure how to "join" a campaign but I do know what I AM BEST FOR! Considering how much I cook and with professional technique (passed down from my mother- a published chef); I know I am perfect to do a campaign called: Pork^® Be Inspired^®! I absolutely love all kinds of pork (considering that we are trying to create a pig pen in our back yard to have our own piggies). I faithfully have my freezer stocked with thick sliced applewood smoked bacon, good salty ham for all kinds of recipies and we all enjoy pork chops in every fashion! Did I mention Cracklins?! lol!!!
Well, I am also an accomplished couponer and bargain shopper if I do say so myself! How else can I feed, diaper and care for 3 children, 3 dogs and a wonderful husband on only $100 a week?! That's all