We found it!

Hey everyone... just a quick update...  We found a place!!  It is a wonderful two bedroom apartment... with everything we were looking for!  I will be sure to post pics when we move in!  I am so excited!

Now I just have to start packing...

Foodie Friday: Green Bean Bundles

These beans are so yummy!  However, it is probably best to save them for special occasions... they are very decadent... but oh so easy to prepare!  


I made them for Thanksgiving... (I had to work so we just had a little Thanksgiving with the two of us... and we used our China!!)

And also for a special Christmas dinner with friends.  The problem... I forgot to take a before picture... so sorry!


Green Bean Bundles: 
Adapted from Kelly's Recipe
Ingredients:
2-3 Cans Whole Green Beans
1 Package Bacon, cut in half 
1 Stick of Butter
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Garlic Salt


Wrap several beans with one strip of bacon (I usually use about 6-8 beans per bundle).  Make as many bundles as you want... make extra because people will eat them up fast!


Melt the butter and brown sugar (you can use more or less sugar depending on how sweet you like them) in a small saucepan.  Stir in the garlic salt.


Pour the butter sugar mixture over the top of the bundles.  Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  You can place the bundles under the broiler for a few minutes after the 30 minute bake time if you like your bacon crispy... but watch them carefully... they burn pretty easily when under the broiler.

I'm telling you... these are a crowd pleaser, and everyone always thinks they take a long time to make... enjoy!

Looking...

So I realized today that I haven't blogged this week... I had such a great start... and now you probably think I just fell off the blogging wagon.  That is not the case at all, the simple fact is that we have not really done anything blog worthy.

The last several days we have spent lots of time looking for a place to live in a month.  Our lease at our current apartment ends at the end of the month so we are looking... somewhat quickly... for a new place to live.  We would love to be able to rent a small home where we have privacy and a little extra space for guests.  However, we are realistic in our expectations and we know that we may not be done with apartment living just yet.  It is so overwhelming... and frustrating!!

We are trying to balance distance to the church, distance to my work, price, and condition... not to mention safety... so many things!!  We are excited about this next step in our lives together.  Please pray for us as we are in the middle of this tedious process... we want to chose the location that is the best fit for us!

Hopefully we will do something fun this weekend that I can talk about... until then we will be out

Foodie Friday: Chicken and Wild Rice

After an extended hiatus, Foodie Friday is back!!!  I have been working on some new recipes... so hopefully I will always have something to post!

I actually made this today for Patrick.  I made it all then he just had to bake it when he got home.  Patrick really likes this dish... I think it is one of his favorites.

Chicken and Wild Rice Bake

-Adapted from About.com

-3 cups cooked wild rice

-3 cups chopped cooked chicken

-16oz pkg frozen French cut green beans

-17oz jar Alfredo sauce

-1/2 cup bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix rice, chicken, green beans (thawed), and Alfredo sauce in a large bowl.  Plane in a 12x8 casserole dish.  Sprinkle with bread-crumbs.

Cook 45-50 minutes until casserole is bubbly.

You can also freeze this dish if you want to make it ahead of time for an good make ahead meal.

Freezer Directions:

Undercook rice by 10 minutes.  Do not thaw green beans.

Mix all ingredients and place in baking dish.  Wrap well and attach a small bag of bread crumbs.

Freeze for up to 3 months.

When you are ready to cook it: thaw overnight in the refrigerator.  Uncover, sprinkle with bread-crumbs, bake at 350 degrees for 50-65 minutes until bubbly.

Bless Others

We were taught from a young age that we should use the blessings God gave us to bless others.  So, each week when I am looking at my coupons and sales I keep a special eye out for items that I can buy and give to a local food pantry.  These may be items I have extra coupons for, or items that we don't like or won't use in our house (macaroni and cheese, boxed potatoes, etc.)

This week's sale at Publix is the perfect time to help stock the food pantry with good quality canned goods... for a very good price!!  Here is what I got today to donate to the Lawrenceville Co-op... a ministry that is special to our family.  All the coupons are found in the store, so it is super simple for anyone to do!!

10 Cans Green Giant Veggies: Normally $1.29 each; On sale B1G1 free, had $1/4 coupon - Total $5.45 for all 10 cans

6 Cans Hunts Tomato Sauce: Normally $.59 each; On sale $2/6 - Total $2

4 Cans Progresso Beans (2 Black Beans, 2 Cannellini Beans): Normally $.99 (Black Beans) $1.29 (Canellini Beans); On sale $2/3, had a $1/4 coupon - Total $1.67 for all 4 cans

1 Baguette: Normally $1.79; On sale for $1.49, had a $1.50/1 Publix Bakery Bread when you buy 6 cans of tomato sauce - Total FREE (a bonus for you!)

**All of these items qualified for the $5/20 coupon in the Viva Italia sale this week.  So, I got an extra $5 off the total price.**

So the Grand Total for the 20 items I will donate to the food pantry...

$4.12 (for $21 worth of food)

That is about $.21 per can!!!

I am so excited about these good buys!!  I would encourage everyone to try it this week... Like I said all the coupons are already in the store... they can be found on a tear pad on the Viva Italia display at the front.  Let me know if you try it... I would love to hear what you get!

Groceries 2/22

Here are my grocery buys for this week.  I am starting to get the hang of it... and I'm really enjoying all the money I have been saving.  I use the shopping list on Southernsavers.com for all my match-ups.

2 Bottles WishBone Salad Dressing: Normally $2.65 each; On sale B1G1 free, had 2 $1/1 coupons - Total $.66 for both

2 Boxes Finish dishwashing tablets: Normally $6.99 each; On sale B1G1 free, had 2 $2.25/1 coupons - Total $2.49 for both

2 Bottles CoffeeMate creamer: Normally $2; On sale 3/$5, had 2 $1/1 coupons - Total $1.34 for both

2 Bags WanChai Ferry frozen dinner: Normally $7.99 each; On sale B1G1 free, had 2 $1.50/1 coupons - Total $4.99 for both

1 Box Deluxe Brownie Mix: Normally $2.65; On sale for $1.99, had a $1/1 Publix coupon and a $1/1 manufactor's coupon - Total FREE

2 Bags Sargento shredded cheese: Normally $3.99 and $4.19 (I had two different kinds); On sale 2/$4, had 2 $1.50/1 Publix coupons and a $.40/2 coupon (which doubled) - Total $.20 for both

1 Bag Macaroni Grill dinner: Normally $7.99; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1.50/1 coupon - Total $2.50

1lb Publix butter: Total $3.19

1 Package Publix Cream Cheese: Total $.99

1 Carton Publix Eggs: Total $1.69

1 Package Oreo Cookies (Can you tell I am made Oreo Balls this weekend?): Total $2.99

*4 Cans Pillsbury Rolls: Normally $2.49 each; On sale 3/$5, had 2 $.40/2 coupons (which doubled) - Total $5.07 for all four

*1 Box Green Giant veggies: Normally $1.66; On sale 10/$10, had a $.50/1 coupon (which doubled) - Total FREE

*4 Cans Green Giant Veggies: Normally $1.29 each; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1/4 Publix coupon - Total $1.58 for all four

*3 Boxes Progresso Chicken Broth: Normally $2.59 each; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1/4 Progresso Publix coupon - Total $3.14 for all three

*1 Can Progresso bread crumbs: Normally $1.97 each; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1/4 Progresso Publix coupon (combined with the item above) - Total $.74

*4 Large Cans Hunts tomatoes: Normally $1.89 each; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1/3 Publix coupon, had a $.45/3 manufactor's coupon (which doubled) - Total $1.88 for all four

*3 Totinos Party Pizzas: Normally $1.25; had a $.40/2 coupon (which doubled) - Total $2.95 for all three

*These items are part of the Viva Italia sale at Publix.  During this sale, there is a coupon at the front of the store for $5 off when you buy any 20 of the selected products.  So, I got 20 and got $5 off on top of my other coupons!*

TOTAL: $104.76 (before sales and coupons)

MY TOTAL: $33.51 (with tax)

That is a 68% savings!

I'm Back!

Hey there... Yes, I confess, I am one of those bloggers.  I got a little behind on my blog... then a week turned into two, turned into a month... and gasp, turned into a few months!  Since I got out of my groove it has been very hard to get it back!  However, I am going to do my best to get it back together... I hope!

Today I am going to list 5 important things that we have been doing since I last blogged... all will be explained better in future posts.

5.  Grocery Shopping
I have been working to get into a good habit on my coupon shopping.  I am not one of those crazy people on TV who has enough deodorant for 5 years in their closet, I try to keep my buys on scale for our family.  I have a stockpile, but it all fits in our pantry.  I am hoping there is a deep freezer in our future... just to make things easier.  Speaking of groceries... can you guess how much I spent on the groceries below this week... I'll post a break-down tomorrow.

4. Moving
One of my best friends, one of my Maids of Honor, our matchmaker...... moved to the other side of the world in January.  "See you laters" are always hard... but I am so excited for her adventure!  I miss her so much already... but I know she is going to do great things!

3. Crafts
I have been making fabric FLOWERS!  To be honest that is what has really filled my free time in place of blogging.  I found a pattern I thought I could make late last year... and it has been nonstop ever since then.  I have now expanded my collection... I can do several different kinds... both pins and hairclips... they are such a stress reliever!

2. Church
Patrick started an internship at our church.  We are SO EXCITED!  He is really enjoying what he has done so far (this is only his second week).  We are both loving getting plugged into our new church family.  If you are ever in Atlanta we would love for you to stop by Mt. Vernon to visit us!

1. Time goes on...
Today is our six month wedding anniversary!  I can't believe it... it seems like just last week we were celebrating at Disney!  We are so blessed!

Alright... those are 5 things we have been up to over the last few months.  Stay tuned for more info on each... Happy Monday!