New New New

Okay so I have taken all this time to look at all these money saving blogs and yummy easy recipes and hopefully I will have a list of my favorite ones up here soon so that we can all be on the same wave length here.

With new changes to state and Government it has been sucking my family dry of our resources. I am very committed to find new ways to shop and save. Ways other than couponing. Which most of you have heard is the new saving money method.But, since I am in a very small community with extremely limited resources available to me, I am going to try my best!!

I am not on my own computer at the moment so this is going to be a short post right now.

If anyone is out there reading this, please feel free to click Follow and keep up with me here at Penny Pinching & Me.

So, to start here, I am going to be compiling a list of things that I normally purchase for the household and how much that we spend. With the prices of everything at the Grocery stores lately its no wonder why we can't make it anymore. Start with household items. Toilet tissue, paper towels, dish soap, laundry soap, shampoo and conditioner, body and hand soap, tooth paste and so on. Write down how much those items normally cost wherever you usually buy them. (I will be posting my list on here to show you how I am gathering my total costs.) Then move on to your normal food costs. Milk, cheese, bread, hamburger, poultry, fish, pasta, sauces, pb&j etc. If you have a family like I do, the kid things are extremely necessary. Also, if you are a baker, like I am, make a list of things you would use to bake. Flour, sugar/sweetner, wheat germ, baking soda, eggs, all that bliss. We are going to target specific areas to help keep our costs down.

So, with that said, I will get my list made tonight (or try too) and than I will get it posted as soon as I can. Feel free to have your friends or fellow Bloggers come find my Blog and we can join forces. :)

Happy blogging Everyone!!!

New Times

I have decided that I am changing things up this year. This year is all about money! Saving it and spending it. Smart spending. Now, this may not interest a lot of readers but I assure you that in these past few months things here in the good 'ole USA have changed. Drastically! More spending for mandatory Health Care, paying out the butt on taxes and still tons of unemployed people getting on the system just to feed their families while they search for income.

I want to teach myself how to cut spending costs by following many blogs that are designed to help people live on less and have more money for other things. Would sure make going on a vacation or getting out of debt easy.

I live in a small Utah City that is limited on stores so this will be no easy feat. However, the necessary trips to the bigger Cities will be more affordable with all of the money saving that I hope to do.

I have never done couponing or price comparisons. I do buy the cheaper things to save money. I make most of our meals instead of making meals from a box (which I loathe completely). However, I am not a stranger to boxed meals, I do them every now and again. Whatever feeds the family, right?

I am looking for new easy yummy recipes and cheap spending advice. I will also be posting references to other cheap spending and coupon blogs and sites. That way whom ever reads this can get in on the action as well. And please follow me so that I can follow you back and get a healthy moderate blog going! Send friends and other saving blogs my way and lets get saving and cooking/baking with extra money in our purses or wallets!

Happy Thursday Blogging-world.

New Recipes Wanted!

I am so behind on blogging and I hadn't realized just how far behind I was until I went to look for new recipes to try. So far I have yet to get any followers on here, which sucks, but I am yelling out to anyone that could possibly be reading. PLEASE HELP MY COOKING/BAKING SKILLS!! My family desperately needs better food! Lol. Not that we don't love my cooking as is, but I am just hungry for a new pallet! I will use any recipe and forward them as well so that others may enjoy them too! Feel free to send your family friends my way so that I can get this Blog (or effort to obtain a new Blog) off the Blogging floor!

Have a STUPENDOUS Saturday!

Kids

Kids Kids Kids... my life line. I feel like my life wouldn't be as important if I didn't have children. I haven't accomplished much in my 29 years. Matter of fact I feel like I haven't accomplished anything except Motherhood. And Motherhood is never fully accomplished. There are so many years of learning before you even know some of the things that come along the way.

The birth of your first child is something that you could never forget. Such a wonderful moment that is frozen in time. Not even the most amazing photo would even come close to explaining what you feel. Every emotion wrapped in one little moment. Tiny fingers and toes. Little eyes glistening at you for the first time. Those tiny fingers curling around yours.

Every moment is intense. Something serene. I have been thinking about my children a lot the past few days. I would do anything for them. As I am sure all of the parents out there would. Or at least the ones that care. I know a few that don't care much for their children. How could you not? They are everything that is good in the world. They are by far, the most innocent amongst the population. How could a parent not love their child?

Not to pass judgement upon any one man or woman, but I do know a few that love their kids because they are supposed too. Not because they want too. I can't help but feel so strongly for those children that aren't as loved as their neighbor or friend. What a cruel world to not love a child.

I love my children as individuals. They have their own cute little personalities. They are a GREAT reason to live life to the fullest. I want them to understand just how much their Mother and Father love them. One lesson that I have learned as a Mother... You will never fully understand how much your parents love you until you have your own children. I love my babies... they will always be my babies, no matter how old they are. <3 <3<3

Hoopty-Blah!

I can't even begin to tell you how much this sudden sore throat isn't wanted. I am supposed to go to Vegas on Friday with my hubby. Hopefully it is just the result of me leaving the bedroom window open last night. This sucks.

So, the last blog that I had/still have, had SO many hits so fast and it was literally about nothing! I'm kind of discouraged with this blog. As excited as I am about how it looks and how its going so far, I am thinking I should stick with my old one. I have people looking at it and reading it, but no followers yet. Alas, I will try to not let it get to me, I know the readers are out there! We shall see how the next week or so turns out. If all else fails, I still have my other nutty blog. :)

I want to put more recipes up for everyone but I kind of want to know what kind everyone likes. I have SO many recipes. I am making the baked French Toast tonight for dinner and I have to admit, I am pretty stoked. I am trying it with the caramel and the cream cheese tonight. Never done it that way before. (Yes, the picture was borrowed)

I realize that I am not a great writer and for that, I apologize greatly. I have always wanted to be one but, I got the short end of the stick when it comes to writing. However, I certainly can keep a good Journal. I have tons to say. For those of you that are just reading and have no idea who this crazy chick is, I should introduce myself:

My name is Jackie. I am a 29 year old Mom and wife from Utah. And yes, before you jump to far ahead and have to ask, I am a Mormon. Seems like everyone wants to know that when they hear that I am from Mormon Ville. However, the assumption that all Mormons are a cult and have many wives is NOT true. I have to get that out there before y'all start hating on us and making accusations about a religion that most people have NO clue about period. Yes, it is a touchy subject. BUT let me also be the first to admit to you that I am not an avid church goer. Not proud of it, but I won't lie and say that I go when I don't. I do believe everything that we are taught and to hope to some day regain a more powerful testimony of my faith.

Now that I have broken some ground ^^ (haha); I have three amazing children that I could not live without. They are my everything and I love them with all of my heart! I went through a horrid nasty divorce with my ex husband a few years ago and have been trying to mend my life as well as my children's lives ever since.

Almost two years ago, I met a very special man named James. I had only had one actual relationship after my ex and the relationship wasn't what I really wanted. So, on the verge of total distress and throwing in the towel for a relationship- James came along. First I thought that him and I would make a great friendship (met him online), but I couldn't stay away from him, I didn't want too. He drew me in so fast that I hadn't even put up the support beams on the wall I had built and WHAM, he broke through it just like that. The first night I met James, he greeted me with the most heart warming hug that seemed to last several minutes, but I didn't care. Our first kiss came instantly and sparks flew like magic and I had never had that happen before. I already knew that there was something very special about this guy and I wasn't going to let him go. James and I started dating in August and we were married that December. It was truly love at first sight and the magic of the stars. Corny as it sounds, its blissfully true.

Here I am over a year of marriage and completely smitten over my husband. Him and I didn't get a wedding, let alone even a shotgun wedding ha! Just him and I and the Judge. Times were tough and we were gold. Soul-mates as he puts it. :) Even though we didn't get a Wedding, James and I are finally going to take our long awaited Honeymoon. Nothing glamorous but as long as we get to be together, we don't care where we are. Since we only live 4 hours from Las Vegas, that became our awaited destination. Here is where that stupid (previously complained about) sore throat comes in play. Hopefully my home remedies fix the problem.

Anywho, there you are. My strange introduction. Hopefully now, I will get some followers. Wish me luck! :) Have a great day everyone!

Baked FrenchToast

1 Loaf of white bread (Granny's is good)                                      
3 c. milk                                                                                         
3 eggs
3T sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1tsp citrus zest
1/2 c. chopped nuts (almonds or pecans) between layers of bread.
Top with raisins or dried fruit
Optional extras: 1 tsp vanilla or almond extract.

Generously grease 9x13 baking pan with butter. Arrange bread in two lightly packed layers in the pan. if you are using toppings (nuts or fruit), sprinkle on layers and in between layers. Whisk milk, eggs, sugar, salt, and flavorings of your choice and pour over bread. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The bread will absorb all the milk custard while you sleep. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes or until puffed and golden. Cut into generous squares and serve with maple syrup, fresh fruit, powdered sugar, or buttermilk syrup. Serves 6 as main course.

Picture below is showing it with different berries, chunks of cream cheese and caramel drizzled on top. These are yummy as well. Get creative!! :)

Ahhhhh!!

The past few days have been a blurr really. Which isn't cool. Life can get SO stressful in a blink of an eye. It gets so crazy and flipped upside down. It seems as though as soon as you get a streak of things going good for a few weeks, BAM, something appears out of the blue! I guess I always knew that this was coming. Just kept telling myself that it wasn't going to happen. Well, it happened! I think that the Mister and I have been through the thickest of crud that we have ever dealt with so far. And the toughest part, is that it isn't over yet.

We have yet to see that light at the end of this dark dreaded tunnel. Maybe it will happen soon. Til then, I won't hold my breath.

Okay so, one thing that everyone might not know about me is that I am an aspired Photographer. Maybe one day when I am full grown, I will take photos Professionally :) sometimes I like to post my work so I love to have feedback. That is where you come in. Please feel free to critique my work. I am open to any and all suggestions. I will post some as often as possible. Here are just a few to get started.

 

You can find more of my work at www.facebook.com/ImprintedPhoto