Archives for September 2012

Oven Baked Shrimp

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If you are on Pinterest, you have most likely seen the lemon butter shrimp picture that’s been going around.  For lunch today, I made my own version, check out the recipe below!

Oven Baked Shrimp

Oven Baked Shrimp

Ingredients:
8-10 shrimp (I used jumbo deveined, shell on)
1/2 medium sweet onion, diced
1/2 c. cherry tomatoes
1/2 lemon, sliced into thin rounds
1/2 stick of butter (4 Tbs)
2-3 tsp Old Bay seasoning
1 Tbs minced garlic
3/4 tsp onion powder
3/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried parsley flakes

Oven Baked Shrimp
Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2.  Melt butter, pour into 9″ round cake pan.
3.  Add in diced onion, garlic, and tomatoes, stir to coat in butter.
4.  Spread lemon slices around the inside of the pan.
5.  Place shrimp in single layer in pan, flipping once to coat both sides.
6.  Sprinkle with Old Bay, garlic powder, onion powder, and parsley.
7.  Bake for 15 minutes, remove and toss with pasta to serve.

Oven Baked Shrimp

This makes an easy, delicious meal and can easily be split between two people.  You could also do an Italian style with capers, artichoke, and parmesan, or even Cajun with peppers and cayenne!  I’m going to play around with the recipe in the next few days and see how it comes out if you substitute broth for the butter, I’ll be sure to link up to that recipe as well.

Oven Baked Shrimp

Do you ever use Pinterest for dinner ideas?  What is your most recent Pinterest inspired dish?

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Frugal Family Fair Outings

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**



We have a large county fair that comes in town each fall, and we always take our family on a Saturday and spend the whole day there.  Going to the fair can be rather expensive, especially with a large family.  We plan for several months in advance, so we can be sure to have money saved and be fully prepared for that day.  I’ve listed a few tips below on how to get the most for your money, and to make the day as fun (and less stressful) as possible.

Frugal family fair outings

 

Frugal Family Fair Outings

1.  Buy all access passes, in advance if possible.

Our local fair (Gwinnett County) offers the option to purchase tickets or all inclusive hand stamps.  Tickets are $1 each and each ride is at least 3 tickets.  For a flat fee of $20-25 (depending on the day), you can purchase a stamp that will allow you to ride everything.  For our family of 8, that can cost us $200!  We were able to purchase hand stamps in advance this year at a local drug store for $17 each, which saved us $64!  Even without the advance purchase discount, $200 is still a good deal for a family of our size.  We would have only been able to ride 6-8 rides each if we purchased $200 in tickets.  Instead, we were able to spend 8 hours there and ride as many things as we wanted.

Frugal family fair outings

2.  Bring your own snacks and drinks.

Fair and festival food is not only greasy and unhealthy, it is also very expensive.  Some fairs will let you bring in a bag with drinks and food.  We chose to eat a good lunch and head over around 2:00pm.  I packed beef jerky, peanuts, chips, cheese cubes, and water.  We carried it in a backpack that we took turns holding.  I also have water bottle holders that I made from old ties that my kids were able to use to carry their own drinks (see picture below).  12 water bottles get really heavy, really fast, when one person is carrying them!  Our fairgrounds also have a nice, cold water fountain, so we were able to refill bottles as they were emptied.  If you are particular about the taste of water from a fountain, you could always bring packets of flavoring, such as Kool-Aid or lemonade to add to your bottle once it is refilled.  If you don’t have the option to bring in food or water, look for a booth that will allow you to purchase a reusable cup that can be filled at a discount.  Ours offered fresh lemonade for $5, with a $3 refill option, and $3 cokes with a $1.50 refill.  Also be sure to check and see if you can leave and get a stamp for re-entry.  If so, you could always leave a cooler in your car and take a break to have sandwiches before going back in for more fun.

Frugal family fair outings

3.  Bring along a friend or family member.

Last year, my parents joined us at the fair to lend a hand with the kids.  They didn’t want to ride anything, so there was no charge, and they enjoyed spending time with their grandkids.  They stayed for a few hours with the little ones in the kiddie land, which let us take our older kids to ride some of the larger rides.

Frugal family fair outings

4.  Let your kids earn money to buy their own treats.

We started a month before the fair with a system for our kids to earn money for goodies.  We do not give our kids a regular allowance, but instead offered them extra tasks they could do for pocket money.  We gave them the option of $1, $3, and $5 tasks, ranging from cleaning out our van to organizing the pantry shelves.  The younger ones were able to earn money buy doing simple things like sweeping the stairs or neatly organizing their bookshelf in the playroom.  They were very motivated to earn cotton candy money, and we didn’t have to listen to whining about what they wanted once we got to the fair.  And of course, it’s a great learning opportunity as well!  My oldest earned $13 to spend, while my 7 year old (not so motivated) only earned $5.  The younger one was kicking himself when he saw how much his brother was able to buy with his extra earnings.

Frugal family fair outings

5.  Plan to stay for several hours.

If you purchase an all inclusive pass, then plan to stay as long as you can so you can really get your money’s worth.  We left after lunch and arrived at around 2:00, and stayed until 10:30 that evening.  Normally my children are in bed by 8:00 at the latest, but some of the rides are just more fun to do once the sun goes down.

Frugal family fair outings

6.  Take a picture of your kids before entering the gate.

This is a great tip for any outing to a crowded venue.  If you happen to get separated from your child, you can show the security exactly what they look like and what they are wearing.  It is also important to discuss with your kids what they should do if they get lost.  My younger ones knew to stay where they were and tell an adult in uniform that they could not find their parents.  My older children knew to meet us by the restrooms, as they have a large yellow balloon above them that can be seen from anywhere on the fairgrounds.  Of course, be sure to go over the rules about strangers, and point out to children what the police officer and fair worker uniforms look like.

Frugal family fair outings

Going to the fair can be a wonderful way to spend the afternoon with your family, and give them something to look forward to each year.  With the right planning, you can save money and stress, and be able to just relax and enjoy the time with your family!

Do you have a local fair that you go to every year with your family?  What are your tips for a fun outing with the kids?

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Sloppy Joes (with lentils!)

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**



I am always looking for ways to cut down on our food bill and dried lentils really help out a lot.  They are very inexpensive, don’t require soaking, and are easy to incorporate into a variety of meals.  Sometimes it can be challenging figuring out how to use a new ingredient, but I have found that we can easily switch them out for ground beef in a lot of dishes.  As I experiment and come up with yummy lentil dishes, I’ll post about them so you can try them out too!

The inspiration for this sloppy joe recipe came from Namely Marly.  I modified it to suit our tastes, that and I can’t stick to a recipe to save my life!  Not only is this recipe super easy, it’s also slam full of veggies and vegan!

By the way, please excuse the horrid photos. One of the mini mafia absconded with my camera and I had to use my phone. 🙁  Anyhow, on to the deliciousness!

Sloppy Joes with lentils

Sloppy Joes with lentils

Ingredients:

1/2 lb lentils (about half a bag)
4 garlic cloves
2 large peppers (I used banana and bell, but any combo will do)
1 medium onion
1 1/2 c. rough chopped cabbage
2 medium carrots
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
oil (vegetable, olive, canola, etc.)
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp oregano
1 1/2 Tbs chili powder
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp smoked paprika (REALLY adds to the flavor)
2 Tbs brown sugar

Directions:

1.  Cook lentils as directed, drain and set aside.

2.  Finely chop all vegetables.  (I’m a food processor junkie, so I just threw everything in there instead of doing it all by hand)

3.  Heat oil in a pot on med-high heat.

4.  Add in chopped vegetables and cook for 5-10 minutes, until soft.

Sloppy Joes with lentils

If it looks like veggie mush, you’re on the right track! 🙂

5.  Stir in diced tomatoes and tomato paste. (Put the diced tomatoes in the food processor for a just a few seconds if you don’t want chunks.  Literally, a few seconds, or they’ll end up like sauce)

6.  Add in all seasonings, stir well, and cook for 5 minutes.

Sloppy Joes with lentils

Starting to look a little more sloppy joe-ish

Just serve it up on buns like you would a traditional sloppy joe.  We didn’t have any in the pantry, so I went with plain ol’ sliced bread, but it was still delicious.

Sloppy Joes with lentils

Not only is this recipe quick and easy, it’s also loaded with good stuff.  You can really use any vegetables you have in your fridge.  I’m not one to go out and buy specific ingredients for a recipe, I just throw in whatever we have around here.  The brown sugar can be left out if you want, I just add it in because I find it helps get rid of that canned tomato taste.  The smoked paprika REALLY makes the flavor pop, it tastes completely different than regular paprika.  We ended up with sandwiches for all 8 of us, and enough leftover to make at least another 4 for lunch.  The kids were eating it straight out of the pot, so you know it was tasty!

Sloppy Joes with lentils

Definitely a winner with the littles!

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Save big on summertime electric bills

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**



I live in Georgia, where the summers are hot and sticky and all around just gross.  Our utility bills tend to be $400+ in the summer months when it’s really hot and humid.  This year, we decided to suck it up and set the thermostat a little higher than previous years.  We typically set our AC to 72, but this summer we’ve gone with 76-78 instead.  It has made a HUGE difference in our electric bill!  I was thrilled to find that our bill over this summer was about $100 less each month than last year.  That’s $400 extra bucks in savings from June-September just from a 4-6 degree change in thermostat settings!

At first, I though it would be hard to adjust, but since we started out the summer heat with a higher temperature in the home, we’ve adjusted without any problems.  Check out the list below for 5 simple ways we keep our home cooling costs down.

Save big on summertime electric bills

1. Open windows and use fans.  Sometimes it’s not just the higher temperatures that are uncomfortable, but the lack of air flow.  Using box fans in addition to our ceiling fans really helped to keep the air moving in the house.  We only set up fans in the rooms we were using, and opened windows in the morning and evening when temperatures were lower.

2.  Dress appropriately.  When temperatures are high, it only makes sense to dress in light clothing.  Instead of wearing jeans and a tshirt, we opted for tank tops and shorts.  Wearing sandals or flip flops instead of socks and tennis shoes also made a big difference.

3.  Program the thermostat.  We set our thermostat for the AC to kick on around noon to 5:00, during the hottest part of the day.  There’s no reason to have the AC running at 78 degrees at 2:00 in the morning when we’re all sleeping!

4.  Turn off the AC.  If we were planning to be gone all day, we set the thermostat to 82 degrees.  It’s ridiculous to cool the house to 78 when no one is at home.  Setting the air to 82 kept the house at a pleasant temperature without overworking the system, and it was pretty easy to cool the house a few degrees by turning the air back on once we got home.  I do not suggest turning the air off completely while your gone, however.  Trying to cool your house down from 90 degrees takes hours and you end up spending more because the system runs for hours to try and bring the temperature back down.

5.  Change the air filter.  Having a clean filter helps to keep your system running more efficiently.  Your AC cannot work as effectively if the filter is covered in dust.  Replacement filters are only a few dollars and can be changed out in a matter of minutes.

How do you cut costs on your electric bill during the hot summer months?  Share your tips below!

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

HANDSFREE Bottle Feeding On-the-Go

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**



My son frequently turns heads these days when we’re out and about.  And not just from his dashing good looks either!  ….let me back up a little: I used to spend meals out eating with one hand.  My son’s bottle in the other hand, feeding a hungry baby.  It was miserable.  

And then my husband found a solution: the Podee bottle system!  This genius feeding system features a regular bottle, and nipple, but further includes a set of tubes to allow your baby to take the bottle -much like he would a paci- with the bottle free to rest nearby.  For younger babies who can’t yet hold their bottle, and even older babies who may frequently drop, the Podee will allow instant access to the bottle, while freeing caregiver’s hands!

In addition, parents of multiples can achieve more productive feedings with the Podee!  Imagine, being able to simultaneously feed two or thee (or more!) babies at once, all while keeping your hands free!

My son, enjoying a bottle
before nodding off.
 


We invested in this bottle system a few months ago, with but two regrets:

  1. Why did we wait so long to try this??!
  2. I wish we’d gotten more than just a 2-pack, or at least gotten some extra tubes and nipples in the beginning.  A minor point, but I find I have to clean them more frequently.  And since they’re dishwasher safe, I either must pull them out of the dishwasher and wash by hand if I find myself in a pinch.
You can snag the Podee at Amazon, with a variety of options, including a single bottle, a two-pack, three-pack, or four-pack.  Also, you can grab an extra set of tubes and nipples, which I would recommend.

What could possibly make these even better?  Snagging them with your Amazon Mom Membership or Amazon Prime Membership, which allows for free two-day shipping, among other perks!

BTW: This is NOT a paid endorsement.  I am sharing about this product because we love it so much, and wanted to share with all y’all.  If I can help make YOUR life easier, great!  :o)

Keep on saving!  :o)
–Barbara
**This post may contain affiliate links.**

Follow Me on Pinterest

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Revising My Mission Statement

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**



Mission Statement

In the last year or so, the number of “deal/frugal bloggers” has exploded exponentially!  I started Atlanta’s Frugal Mom as a means to share my money-saving strategies with my continuously growing reader base.

However, as happens, life seems to slow down the pace of the blog.  The idea of AFM was born shortly after my daughter was born, and became a reality about a year thereafter.  In the meantime, -well- life continued to happen.  I started teaching preschool, and then found out our cozy family of three would be expanding, along with my waistline.  ;o)  With pregnancy and then the birth of my son, the blog simply had to take a backseat.

While I feel like I’ve learned much about myself and about blogging in the process, as well as met many incredible bloggers -many of whom I am now proud to call my friends- I feel like I fell behind the times a bit, so to speak.  I’ve given careful consideration to the direction AFM needs to take, in order to continue to stay relevant in a world over-saturated with deal/coupon blogs.  I have no intention of discontinuing what I’ve been doing, on the contrary!

I do, however, plan to shift my focus slightly.  There are, after all, three components to Atlanta’s Frugal Mom:

  1. Atlanta — events and opportunities in and around the metro Atlanta area;
  2. Frugal – frugal living, including but not limited to, coupons and money-saving advice and deals;
  3. Mom – parenting advice, “frugal parenting”, little nuggets of sage wisdom (hee hee!), and my own observations, lamentations, and curiosities relating to being a mom.
Up until now, my focus has been on the Frugal portion of the blog, with “Atlanta” coming in at a close second.  However, the “mom” component simply can’t be ignored.  With that, I bring to you “Wordless Wednesdays“, where I share little glimpses in to my life as a mother, rich with sweet little red-headed morsels of cuteness. As well as my “Frugal Parenting” pieces — which serve as quick little snippets of ideas to take and use as you see fit.  (And if you see anything Pinterest-worthy, by all means “pin” away!)

In addition to shifting my focus, I am rather excited to get to start bringing you all many giveaway opportunities, as they become available to me.  With my “bloggers circle” expanding, comes more networking, which has opened many new doors for me.   I have partiicpated in quite a few giveaways within the last six months — some being fantastic opportunities, other -eh- not so great.  But with each experience comes new lessons and ideas, and I learn to be a bit more discerning about with whom I choose to work.

I digress.  My mission statement is shifting, as I alluded to earlier.  I will always continue to bring my readers great deals, but I must also focus on the other two pieces: Atlanta and parenting.  After all, I would not be who I am if I was just “frugal”.  :o)

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Atlanta's Frugal Mom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. In other words, if you click through to Amazon from some of the books or products I recommend and make a purchase, I get a small percentage in exchange for your purchase. It's a small way you can support AFM.