Yard Salin' and Givin' Back

Tomorrow is the big day for the Pay it Forward yard sale hosted by the gals at Fabulessly Frugal that I posted abou HERE and HERE. For the past few days I have been helping out with sorting all the donations - and there were a lot - and baking. If you want to try some of my Grandma's Famous Snickerdoodles - you better stop by for the bake sale!

Now that all the dontations are collected and sorted and the baking is (probably) done - now all that is needed are shoppers! Please stop by the sale and say hi - and pick up a few things too!

Get all the details HERE.

-Michelle

Recipe Swap - Busy Day Ham Bake

I made this last week and promised to do a post if it was good. IT WAS GOOD! I had to improvise a little bit because I didn't have everything on hand to make it, but I'm sure the original was just as good as my improvisation!

Original Recipe - Busy Day Ham Bake (Taste of Home's 2002 Quick Cooking Annual Recipes page 144 - I got this at a yard sale for $.50 - I use it all the time!)

1 can condensed cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
1 10 oz. pkg frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1 c. cooked rice
1 c. cubed fully cooked ham
1/4 c. sour cream
1/4 c. mayonnaise
1/4 c. dry bread crumbs
1 T. butter or margarine, melted

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Transfer to a greased 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Toss bread crumbs in butter, sprinkle over the top. Bake, uncovered at 350 for 30 minutes or until heated through.

My version - Busy Day Ham Bake

1 can cream of mushroom soup (I didn't have cheddar cheese soup)
1 12 oz. pkg frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1 c. cooked rice (I had this already cooked and in the freezer! Try it some time!)
1 c. cubed fully cooked ham
1/4 c. sour cream
1/4 c. mayonnaise
1/4 c. dry bread crumbs
1 T. butter or margarine, melted
shredded mozzarella cheese

I followed the directions above except sprinkled cheese on top, then the bread crumbs.

It was good and so creamy.

Enjoy!

For more recipes this week check out The Grocery Cart Challenge!
-Michelle

Happy Blogiversary to Me!!

I can't even believe this...but it has been a year since I started Saving Some Green! What a year it has been! Here are some of the highlights of the past year:

1. I have "met" some really great bloggers and readers through blogging!


2. I have enjoyed the accountability that blogging provides. It helps me stay (relatively) within my budget!


3. I now take pictures of my food so I can post it online. Somehow, it doesn't seem weird anymore - even to my family!


4. I have enjoyed sharing the ups and downs of my life with all of you!


5. I have made a few bucks!


6. I have received a TON of FREE Stuff!!


7. I have found my niche in the money saving arena - I'm not obsessed with getting every deal and I love that I am okay with that!

Not only that, but the last year has brought a lot of joy to my non-blogging life. I just surpassed going from working full-time outside the home to working only part-time two days per week. I started blogging as a way to fill up all the time I seemed to have when I was home. Now I can't believe I thought I had so much free time!

This year it has also been fun to see my husband transition into our "new" lives together. Instead of the weekends being rush, rush, rush we have enjoyed doing family activities together. I still don't think he is used to having dinner on the table when he gets home (almost) every day!

In the past year, my kids have grown so much! They have gone from this:

To this:

Sometimes it makes me sad that they are so grown up! We would also love to add to our family - and we are leaving that in the Lord's hands. I'm so thankful for my precious family!

Thanks to all of you for helping to make this a great year in my life and I look forward to many more!

-Michelle

Amazing Coupon Database

The Krazy Coupon Lady is a local Idaho blogger with a great coupon/deal website. She has taken things a step further to make things easier for all of us with her new Internet Printable Coupon Database. It is in alphabetical order by brand and I swear it has every printable coupon available anywhere!

Go HERE to check it out - then bookmark it (I'll also be adding it to my sidebar)! I have a feeling you will be using it all the time!

Thanks Krazy Coupon Lady for putting this together and maintaining it!

-Michelle

Frugal Friday - Putting the Word Out 2.0

A concept I learned from Amy Dacyczyn from the Tightwad Gazette (see my side bar if you don't own this book - it is worth EVERY PENNY!) was the concept of putting the word out. I have a lot of success with this (read some previous posts HERE).


I recently realized/discovered/thought about another great way to put the word out. Through the internet, especially Facebook, Twitter, and Blogging!


I have around 100 friends on Facebook - imagine the possibilities. I share a need with 100 people through my status update, one person (or some of the people they know) is bound to be able to fill that need! This is an exchange between me and my Aunt Judy about a need that she posted this morning.
Think of the time that she saved by not calling everyone she knows to try and find a high chair. I'm sure also that she wouldn't have thought of asking me because my baby that age where she could go either way - high chair or booster.

Try it - put the word out (digitally) and see what you end up with!

Check out more Frugal Friday ideas on Life as Mom!

-Michelle