BOOK SALE!!

AHHHH book sale right now the Lindgren's children center is having a book sale 2 for a dollar. GO buy books...NOW. Lots of kids books.

Coupons and such

So I was looking in to coupons in general, and I discovered something really neat. Most of the local businesses I go to will honor a coupon, even if I am not holding it (so long as it is an in store coupon.) Not just because it is decent, but because it does indeed pay to shop local, if they know your name and face you get the bonus of being a  regular customer. Use this type of social currency when and if you can. But don't over use it. If you get to be known as the "can I sample it." Person at the deli counter that's just wrong.

This is a really good dish using Easter leftovers, ham and scalloped potatoes. it's simple to prepare so it's almost like taking a break from cooking too. Take some leftover ham and chop it in to chunks, take fresh or leftover boiled potatoes and slice them. Fry some bacon and onions (or just chopped onions if you prefer, but then use butter to fry them) use the lard from the bacon and a couple of tablespoons of flour to make the base for a rue. Then alternate adding shredded cheese (any kind is good though I prefer a nice sharp cheddar,) and cream(unwhipped leftover heavy cream works) or milk till your sauce reaches a desired thickness and cheesiness. I usually end up with about a cup of sauce and use 3/4 of a small bag of cheese. Then layer potatoes and ham till your casserole dish is full adding sauce with each layer and if  you have it also sprinkling cheese. Be sure to start and end with potatoes, because ham gets crusty in the oven if left uncovered. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 if you are using leftover ingredients for an hour if you are using fresh potatoes. A dis so cheesy and good even your kids will eat it.

Easter and the big spend

So last weekend was Easter, and as good bunnies do the Easter Bunny came to my house. I love my kids, most mom's do, but lets not forget that a little goes a long way. I decked out 5 Easter Baskets for under a hundred dollars, including candy AND baskets. Here are some of my simple tips. Know your audience (and mine was pretty wide.) I have a seven year old, a five year old and a one year old, not to mention myself and a friend. I went light on the candy and bought a dvd  for everyone (except the seven year old) The dvd's were five dollars at Walmart. I left the candy till the last minute, why, because it gets marked down, way down. I also put a small (under ten dollars) toy in each basket, and rather than buy individual candy I broke up big packs. For my seven year old it was gamestop all the way, using my power up card I got two Nintendo DS games for twelve dollars and a third one FREE, the third one I kept for me. And of course everyone got a bunny, because it isn't Easter till you have had your bunny ear for breakfast.

The most important thing I did to save money was skipping out on the junk in my baskets. I don't buy fancy Easter grass, or little plastic eggs. Like wise I got ice cream pail style "baskets" because your kids hate those evil splinter giving wicker ones. Look forward to my nifty easter leftover recipes this week too.

SALE!!!!!

Okay that was dramatic. Just like every store  I walk in to, how come everything seems to be on sale but the only real deals are on the clearance rack? Because SALE! motivates you to buy. I mentioned this before. The thing is with clothes shopping, go in with an agenda, and a price range. If you have to buy new (and I would REALLY suggest checking out Goodwill, Savers, Plato's Closet, Clothes Mentor, or Once Upon a Child) say to yourself "I want a pair of Jeans that looks good for under $20" and hunt.  I'd also like to point out Goodwill has a toddler day on Thursday where a good majority of their kids clothes are a dollar or less.

This weekend.

Exciting stuff this weekend for St. Cloud area parents. The boat house at Lake George is opening. St. Patrick's Day is coming, and of course the art crawl is this weekend as well. he art crawl is a great event for kids and parents, you get a chance to check out some amazing down town businesses and quite a few of them have free food. There are lots of demo's for the kids to see how things are done, and a free look at what art is for the young, and the young at heart.

Minnesota Children's Museum

What??? Costly??? Never check out this need based membership program....one year for free, if you're a low income parent this is a great deal. Want some arts and culture on the sly locally check out the St. Cloud State Art Department as well as the Paramount and the theater series at St. Johns and St. Ben's .