May 2016 Frugal Chatter - ALL WELCOME

[lilo0003]

I had some good PC plus offers this week and had a pepperidge farm one that showed up twice with different values so I was able to but 5 packs of goldfish for 10.00 and earn 4000 points. Dh recieved some SDM Mail outs and we were able to spend 23.00 an earn 7000 points but one offer did not work so he will have follow up as I don't like to miss out on points.
J&C: I have had that happen too but then the offers start again, there is no logic.

[Natalka]

Ciel, I think SDM still might have PC Decadent chocolate chips for 1.99 - I bought some last week.

Two years ago, I won Hershey's baking chocolate for a year - and I've just thrown the last few of the bags away - I was still using the ones that didn't have much of a bloom on them so they were fine.. The choc chips I just got were the first I've had to pay for in a very long time!

Son came over for supper - made a nice pork roast meal. Milan told me when he first came that he thought his tonsils were inflamed and that he should have gone to the doc yesterday. Well, after we ate, he said his ear was starting to hurt a lot too - so he headed over to the medi clinic near here to see what's up - and I'm just waiting for him to come back.
What he does NOT need is to be very sick now - just when he's done school, and looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow.
And, he's a typical man - he wouldn't go to the doc if it weren't really bothering him a lot.

Hope you all have a nice evening!

Added later - son's tonsils are enlarged, not infected, prob because of a virus - but a swab for strep was done. Ears are okay.

[Andit]

Good evening, everyone. Hope all is well.

Been running around, as usual. Off to the clinic with my Mom tomorrow, to hopefully get some answers. Or at least an idea of what to do next. This sitting around in limbo is getting really really annoying. Especially since my Mom's getting weaker and no one is telling us anything. This is so different from my experience with the health care system (my specialists are so much more organized).

The brats are keeping me sane. Or rather, they're forcing me to be more sane than they are. Quincy cat has decided that he has to race around the apt like a whirling dervish after every meal, ostensibly to burn off calories and have room for treats. Lily dog actually stole food - ok, so the neighbour child dropped a large cookie and my 4-legged vacuum swallowed it before anyone noticed - which led to a certain someone throwing up on my bed (she stuck her nose under my comforter while standing beside the bed and slunk away after making a mess). Sigh. And I wouldn't trade the brats for all the money in the world.

Better go check on the sleepyheads - it's too quiet.

Night all.

[Angela273]

Well, most of our household now has this sinus bug. I weeded in the garden and picked up in the yard with our son for 1.5hrs today just before lunch. My brother is going to come and rotatil my garden in the next couple of days. I'm trying to arrange to get sheep manure from a farmer. I made a quick and easy supper tonight. Bathed all 3 kids. Free pre-k classes and story time start up again this week.

[lizzie bargain]

Today DD was out with a friend so DH and I went to the mountains and toodled around-such a lovely warm, green early spring-the bears are out but today we just saw bighorn sheep and deer. Dh rode his bike to the top of Highwood Pass(2200 metres where the road is not yet plowed or open to cars). Picnic lunch by the lake.

[Nina1]

May 1st/16 2 grandsons baptised! Sweet service, lots of pics and an opportunity to empty my freezer of some of the bacon and hot dogs! Turned my daughter in law on to ML stuffed chicken breast (free) with the purchase of ML meat pies for 99 cents each at food basic. Love to teach! (funny to watch!)

[Natalka]

Andi - sure hope things get better for your mom.

Angela, hope your whole family gets better soon!

Last night before our son left, he felt better after some ibuprofen and chocolate cupcakes, lol!
Then - gah - the alternator on his car went south, so my husband had to follow him across the city to make sure he got it to his shop, then drove him home all the way across the city the other way, then back home - crazy amount of driving but ensuring Milan was safe.
So I sent him home with cupcakes, banana bread, some fruit, crackers, other assorted items, and enough leftovers for a few meals.

Hope you all have a lovely day - it's going to be a hot week here.

[sweet sparrow]

Has anyone ever cooked with rice wine before? I found some interesting recipes and they called for rice wine. And five spice. Has anyone seen those in stores?

I also tried looking for tofu at WM. I have better luck finding it in ethnic grocery stores, but I do find teensy extra hard bricks in places like Fortinos and Sobeys. Am I not looking hard enough?

Obviously, I am trying to be adventurous and cook more these days. This weekend, I found chicken thighs for $0.79/lb and bought a bag. Four turned out reasonably well in the oven. LO asked for more, but she was just eating around her rice and veggies.

As for budgeting, we may be in for a huge shakeup and not in an expected way. I commiserate with everyone on the unexpected surprises!

@Natalka: Thank you for the virtual cookie. I really need one right now!

[Frugalbigmama]

Good Morning! A nice sunny day and a crazy busy day for me at work. Oh well should make the day go by fast.
I have a porch pick up today and 2 more pick ups this evening. Will post more stuff for sale tonight.
Dinner-Not sure yet- We have tons of leftovers but may use those up this week. I took taco meat out of the freezer this morning for the boys for tomorrow nights dinner. Youngest will have tacos in his lunch on Wed.
Kitchen was clean when I left the house this morning-thank gosh. Tonight I run the dishwasher so what ever few dishes are used tonight will fit in.

[jasperandchar]

@sweet sparrow I've used and still use rice wine vinegar in some of my Chinese dishes as for Tofu no idea (haha)

_____________________

Well the contractor came was miffed and didn't stay long....sigh....dh was dragging his ass in doing a task that needed to be done and so did it yesterday but the contactor is now 2 days behind schedule as he told me and may not get to re-installing my hard wood floors, I could cry. 1 step forward 5 steps back so it seems. And I'm so fed up of sleeping in the dinning room/living room, oh well - I can't turn back time so I'll see what happens tomorrow.

AND May's budget is out the window...all was good and now not so much....grr...

Tonight's supper will be homemade sweet & sour chicken, super easy and yummy, let's hope I find the motivation because I'm feeling super bummed right now.

Wishing everyone a great day

[SassyAshley]

Nancy hopefully it all works out. Maybe the contract will change his tune once he calms down.

I have given up on May's budget, paid Thursday was broke by Friday once I paid everything. I am trying to get creative but the numbers just will not work with me. Oh what I would give for Mom to get more hours as so far not a single call back on a resume she has sent out.

[Frugalbigmama]

Don't forget Mother's Day is this Sunday. I have to go to Food Basics and buy a few hanging plants. Tried to pm elsewhere but they were nicer at FB. I also have a tin of biscuits and a nice hardcover cookbook for my mom. Bought my card a few weeks ago so once I grab the flowers today I am done

[momof5boys]

I recently bought an iphone4 off a friend. Have a plan for texting but no data. Can I still subscribe to CO51? I'm not a techie....

[Frugalbigmama]

I recently bought an iphone4 off a friend. Have a plan for texting but no data. Can I still subscribe to CO51? I'm not a techie....

You can use it with Wi-Fi I would assume (at home or somewhere else with free Wi-Fi)

[Frugalbigmama]

Don't forget Mother's Day is this Sunday. I have to go to Food Basics and buy a few hanging plants. Tried to pm elsewhere but they were nicer at FB. I also have a tin of biscuits and a nice hardcover cookbook for my mom. Bought my card a few weeks ago so once I grab the flowers today I am done

Flowers bought for mama on my way home for lunch (chicken ceaser salad). Now I can wrap/get the card ready and not be part of the weekend last minute mayhem! I put them in the back yard and gave them some water. Will move into the garage this evening.