Frugal Friday, Post Holiday Glut.

We're back from our amazing time home in Oregon with family. We soaked up every second that we could get and even got to see some snow! Now that the holidays are over this is usually a time that most people try even harder to save money for any overspending they may have done during the holidays.

A & B are here to help with a post holiday money

saving tip: cook at home. I know, it's so boring and so obvious, BUT cooking at home really does save money. You can freeze things ahead of time, cook and buy in bulk to save even more money, and have the self satisfaction when you're tasting your creations to know that you did it yourself and saved money in the process!

As I mentioned before, we are trying to cook and freeze meals ahead of time, both for saving time and money. A great food that you can freeze, make in bulk, AND that's inexpensive is:

soup. Oh soup, how we love you. If you're also dieting, or just like to eat healthily I found a great recipe in the Times that was for a sweet potato and butternut squash soup that we made, and we can attest to the fact that it actually was really delicious and I was able to freeze a

bunch too. Split pea soup is another great staple to make ahead and peas

are very, very inexpensive when you buy them in bulk. For a little extra DIY bonus, here are some of the most adorable canning labels I have ever seen that you can add to your jars of soup when you're freezing them.

Paper Crave made these free printables for a canning party, which I just may have to do!

Frugal Friday, Resolutions!

In this New Year I vow to cook and freeze more, use more coupons and to finally finish the A & B collection of vintage goodies and cards I've been putting off for so long! While both A & I love going out for dinner, trying to freeze meals ahead of time will save money and, from what I've read from my 1960's housewife's guide to home freezing, provide a variety of meals to call on whenever I need! Or should an "unexpected guest" arrive" which seems to be one of the most terrifying things ever for the housewives of that time! In order to kick-off, and keep, my resolutions I've borrowed an immersion blender and made and frozen four soups. I was also given a Chinook Coupon Book and have used several coupons already! Off to a good, and frugal if I do say so myself, start! I'm feeling inspired and ready to make things with my hands!

Happy Thanksgiving!

So...A & I are hosting Thanksgiving for the first time this year! I was very proud of myself this year I made almost everything last night so that today is easy breezy! We've got family and some kids (also family) coming over in a few hours and we're excited. I'm doing a fun craft with them that I'll share about soon. We're thankful for all of you and have a safe and happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Le Creuset Update!

In addition to seeing our amazing friends get married in Oregon last weekend, A & I were also able to make a little stop at the Le Creuset outlet!

It was a little overwhelming, but as I was looking for the map to find the store there was a flier saying that Le Creuset was having a Buy More Save More sale and so the pieces I had picked out all ended up being an additional 35% off! I was pleased with my savings and ready to get cooking! This is what I got, and my savings:

5.5 qt. pot originally $315, priced at $196 (Sale price $68.60)

Skillet originally $190, priced at $112 (Sale price

$39.20)

Sauce Pan 2.75 qt. originally $170, priced at $161 (Sale price $56.35)

Stainless Steal Nob (for higher temp oven cooking) originally $10, priced at $10 (Sale price $3.50)

Cast Iron Cleaner (because they're so expensive that I am now terrified!) originally $12, priced at $12 (Sale price $4.20)

So, let's add that all up, if I had bought this all at a non outlet store it would have been a

whopping total of $697 (plus tax if it was here!)! Then, if it had been literally the day before (which was prior to the "Buy More Save More" sale) it still would have been $491! My grand total at the outlet, without sales tax and with the BMSM sale was only (yes, I know, not "only" but this was my grown-up present to myself!) $319.15!! Now, I just need to read the thirty page instruction booklet, search the net a bit for helpful hints and then you know, actually cook something and I'll be ready to enjoy my luxurious new gift!

FYI the pieces are now on our kitchen table much like a display, oh and I did get the "Carribean" color that I loved so much afterall! (These are the pieces I got as pictured).

Frugal Friday!

It's obvious that Le Creuset is a classic, elegant staple to anyones kitchen, but I'll admit that I thought that was only in the kitchens of "fancy people" and those lowly folks that cannot spend hundreds of dollars on a few pieces and aren't professional chefs would just have to do without...but wait, there is another option!

First let me say that I have been edging towards the switch to cast iron for awhile because of the impuritues and otherwise scary things in non-stick pots and pans. This summer when A & I were home in Oregon I picked up an adorable burnt orange cast iron frying pan to begin the collection. While I was in France my host cooked

everything in cast iron pans and it just added to the luxurious timeless feel of France, but that's another story. A few weeks ago a friend of mine from Oregon wrote on her blog that, bizarely

enough, she too was making the switch, AND she found out an

amazing thing...there are Le Creuset outlets!! You can find their locations here: http://www.lcstores.com/locations.asp and my BFF told me that they also sell them at TJ Maxx! Well, A & I are going up to Oregon for oh, about 30 hours, for one of our best friends weddings (Go J & A!) this weekend and on the way to the wedding I will be stopping at the Le Creuset outlet to see what I can see. So excited! Now, you too can be a "fancy person"! I think that I'll get a few key pieces and add vintage ones as I find them. I really want this color (it would match my kitchenaid perfectly) but I'm worried about staining and browning over time...I also like the idea of doing a mix of colors like a little rainbow collection, who says they have to match?!