Thrifty Thursday

Rite Aid actually paid me money to take Crest toothpaste home yesterday! Yes, that's right. They paid me 26 cents to take toothpaste off their shelf for me to use in my home.

How'd I do that?

Crest Toothpaste on sale $2.49
UP+ Rewards............- $2.00
Coupon.................- $ .75

Equals.................- $ .26

They ended up owing me money. YIPPEE!!!! LOVE FREE STUFF (especially if it's something that I need and use)!

Wardrobe Refashion

I've taken the pledge. The 2 month Wardrobe Refashion pledge that is.

What is "Wardrobe Refashion"?

Wardrobe Refashion was started by Nichola Prested after deciding to quit buying new manufactured clothing in a bid to do her part for the planet, save money and improve her sewing skills.

Those who take the pledge promise to not purchase new, manufactured clothing for the period of 2, 4, 6 months OR LIFE. They pledge to refashion, renovate, and recycle preloved items with their own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium or make their own from scratch.

Since I'm already doing this anyway because of my current financial situation due to the California budget crisis, I figured I'd take it one step further and take the pledge for 2 months to start. I can't afford to buy anything new anyway.

This round of the Wardrobe Refashion doesn't officially begin until September 1st, but I've already got my first project completed (I hope that's OK).

Remember my Thrifty Thursday post about the old white sheets? Click HERE.



You know I have zero money right now so when DD announced to me that she only had one shirt that still fit, I wasn't quite sure what we were going to do.

One white sheet, a little scrap fabric, a pattern from my collection, a few hours on the sewing machine and this is what we came up with.







I had to adapt the pattern a bit because the front was TOO low for Miss Modesty (aka DD) so I added the additional pink fabric at the top. I think it actually makes this top better by matching the band and ties. Oh, and I didn't have the right width elastic so I took apart a fitted sheet and used the elastic from that. Talk about a recycled and refashioned project!

DD loves it! I love it! It looks SO cute on her! I'd say this pattern is a keeper for us. It's adaptable with different types of sleeves from sleeveless to long sleeve and we can always do different lengths as well.

Thrifty Thursday and A Quote

A drawer of old white sheets:


An empty tin:


AND

A clock:


What do all of these things have in common? Absolutely nothing. EXCEPT that they are all in the process of being "refashioned". We have three projects going on right now. Each of which started as one of the above pictured items.

Stay tuned to see what they each become as we continue in our thrifty ways.

~~~~~~~~~~

And, only because I read this today, and it's too good to pass up, here is the

"Quote for the Day"

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the
morning the devil shudders and says "Oh shoot, she's awake!" ~Unknown~

Thrifty Thursday - Cookie Mix

Did you know there is more than one Cookie Monster? Yes, the other one lives here in this very house. Maybe you have one too! And, those store bought cookies can get expensive (plus they're really not nearly as good as homemade anyway).

I like to have this cookie mix on hand to whip up a batch of cookies in a matter of minutes. While cookies aren't exactly the best thing for you, by making them yourself you not only save tons of money, but you can customize them with more wholesome ingredients (if you're so inclined).

Here is my recipe for a basic cookie mix. Then, you can make just a couple of additions to have 5 different varieties of scrumptious yummies. (HINT: We think the sugar cookies are the BEST!)

BASIC COOKIE MIX

3 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup shortening, preferably butter flavored Crisco

Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Cut shortening with a pastry blender until mix resembles course meal.
Store in container with tight-fitting lid, even a ziploc bag will work. Makes about 8 cups.

HINT: I usually double or triple this recipe to have a lot on hand in my pantry.

CHOCOLATE COOKIES

2 cups Basic Cookie Mix
1 egg unbeaten
3 Tbs unsweetened cocoa
2 Tbs milk
1 Tbs vanilla extract

Bake on a well-greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for about 12 - 15 minutes.

HINT: We haven't tried this yet, but they might be even better with some peanut butter chips or white chocolate chips and nuts.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

2 cups Basic Cookie Mix
1 egg, beaten
1 Tbs milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Combine mix, egg, milk and extract. Add chips. Drop by spoonfuls onto a well-greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

GINGER COOKIES

2 cups Basic Cookie Mix
1 egg, unbeaten
1 Tbs dark molasses
4 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking soda

Combine all ingredients until well blended. Because of the molasses, these cookies tend to stick, so make certain cookie sheet is very well greased. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes.

OATMEAL COOKIES

2 cups of Basic Cookie Mix
1/2 cup uncooked, old fashioned or quick rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins (optional - We don't like raisins so we leave them out - Unless we are making a batch to take to DMother.)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional - We love nuts so we put them in.)
1 egg, unbeaten
2 Tbs milk
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients until well blended. Bake on well-greased baking sheet at 350 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes.

SUGAR COOKIES

2 cups Basic Cookie Mix
1 egg, unbeaten
1 Tbs milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
sugar

Combine all ingredients until well blended. Refrigerate dough until well chilled, at least 1 hour. Then, using your hands, roll dough into small balls (if it gets too sticky, lightly spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray or rub them with canola oil). Drop the dough balls into a small bowl with sugar, turning to coat. Place on a well greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes.

NOTES:

~ These cookie recipes are supposed to make about 40 cookies. However, it truly all depends on the size you make them of course.

~ I have found with my current oven that 12 - 15 minutes is WAY TOO LONG. Check your cookies as they bake. We like ours soft so about 9 - 10 minutes seems to be about right.

~ The baked cookies freeze wonderfully. Make up a double or triple batch and keep them in your freezer for quick treats.


HAPPY BAKING!

Thrifty Thursday - A New Slip

First, I just found out that the Salvation Army Thrift Store that I go to in the "city" has 50% off all clothing on every Wednesday and Friday. While that might not be exciting to some, I'm thrilled. Why? Because I love thrift stores ALMOST as much as I love libraries and craft/fabric stores. Also, this same store marks clothing down to 50% if it has been in the store for more than 7 days. The tags on the clothing are marked with the day they are received so it's pretty easy to figure out. Say, you find a wonderful skirt that is marked $3.30. The date is June 26 on the tag, and the date that you find this skirt is July 22. Well, that brings it to $1.15. Then, July 22 just happens to be a Wednesday so another 50% off that and your final purchase price for a new-to-you skirt is 0.58. That's right - 58 cents! Yippee for me! Now to convince DD that it's really alright to buy clothes at the thrift store again. (She's kind of burned out on the whole thrift store experience due to her mother's overzealousness during her younger years.)

On to the main "Thrifty Thursday" feature of the day:

I have a couple longer dresses and my "new-to-me" skirt from the above example. They are great for summer as they are flowy and cool. But, I have a problem. In the sunlight, you can see right through them.

Enter the half slip. The half slip solves the peep show problem...sort of. You see, my half-slip is above the knee so it looks really funky when you stand in the sun and can still see through the bottom half of the skirt. Plus, it's nylon (or some other equally synthetic fabric). Not a good fabric for summer comfort.

I have no money to buy a new slip so I think to myself, "How hard could it be to make one?" So that's what I did. I found some instructions online. I went to my beautifully organized fabric stash and pulled out an old, ivory-colored sheet (perfect for summer because it's cotton). I had some elastic in my sewing notions basket just waiting to be made into a waistband. Then, it was just a matter of a couple cuts with the rotary cutter, some pinning, a few runs through the sewing machine, and VOILA a new half slip perfect for my longer skirt/dresses and summer-time heat.


My favorite part is the lace trim. It's from my inheritance from one of my Grandmas. It's so pretty!

New half slip for FREE!!!!

AND, it was so easy I think I may make myself a skirt or two using these same instructions. Different fabric, of course! Maybe even a colorful sheet if I find one on my next thrift store scavenge.

Thrifty Thursday - Taco Meat Seasoning

Since I'm one of those lucky California teachers that has a signed contract for the upcoming school year, I do not qualify for unemployment benefits despite the fact that I had to take 6 weeks of mandatory, unpaid time off. That has required me to do some very creative financing this summer. Our new pad came with a refrigerator, washer and dryer. I had ours from the old house which we purchased less than two years ago (the appliances not the house). So.... I sold the refrigerator and have people interested in buying the washer and dryer. That along with my birthday money MAY pay the rent for August. I'm selling my creative projects on Etsy, collecting plastic for recycling, and anything else that I can think of that is legal and ethical.

Which brings me to this post and the title "Thrifty Thursday". I've been in this predicament before so unfortunately I'm no stranger to this (although I kind of thought it was be over once I finished college - that was the point of going to college, right?)......OK, I got sidetracked there.....

One way that I save some money is by making whatever I can from scratch. DD loves beans, beans, beans (good thing cuz' they're cheap and sometimes FREE from our "secret source"). And, what goes good with beans? Tacos!

I usually buy ground beef when it is on a really good sale, brown it all up (yes, 10 lbs of it - sometimes more). Then, I put it in ziploc bags and freeze it. Makes for easy meal preparation. And, I (umm....DD) only has to wash the nasty pan once.

So, I take one pack of the already browned ground beef out of the freezer and thaw it in the microwave. Then, dump that into a skillet, add 1/2 cup of water and the following Taco Meat Seasoning mix. Simmer for 5 - 10 minutes. VIOLA! Yummy taco filling! (Thrifty too!)

It's much cheaper to make our own mix than buy those little packages at the supermarket, and it's easy! Get your spices in bulk at Costco, Sam's Club, Smart and Final, Dollar Tree, wherever you can find them (BUT not at the grocery store - TOO EXPENSIVE!)

TACO MEAT SEASONING

Makes enough mix for one pound of ground meat.

1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon crushed dried red pepper (Ceyenne) (optional) (I actually only use 1/4 tsp because this stuff is HOT!)
1/2 teaspoon instant minced garlic or garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon drived oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and blend well.

I usually make about 10x this amount at once. I line up 10 little Tupperware midgies (you know the ones - those little cute, tiny ones) and I measure away into each container, put the lid on each and shake. That way, whenever we're in the mood for Mexican food, the seasoning mix is all ready to go. If you don't have the containers, you can use sandwich bags just as well (I've done that too).

Another easy way to use this which I'm doing right now is to place some boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the crockpot, add enough chicken broth to cover the chicken and add the above taco meat seasoning. Cook on high for about 4 hours. Shred cooked chicken with two forks and roll it up in a tortilla with your other fixin's. Super easy, super good and best of all for HOT summer days like today - it doesn't heat up the kitchen.