The Rays are on a roll. I went to the game tongiht, I left early because I have a job to get up for, and Snoopy was waiting for me..so I missed the 7th inning at the Trop, but I saw it here, and it was awesome!! If they win tonight we sweep the Cubs (Sorry D!) !! All of those Cubs fams sitting by me can go cry into their crib bedding..HA, GO RAYS!

Oh, and I am up to THREE free pizza’s, compliments of their great playing! HA!! I love the Kane’s Strikeout deal they have, Rays throw 10 strikeouts in any home game and you get a free Papa John’s pizza….where’s a better deal than that?

I got back yesterday morning, and went right from airport to work….was WAY too tired when I got home last night for anything computer related - so here I am.
The weekend was awesome, it was a whirlwind, and I was tired - but had a great time! It was nice to spend time with my cousins, take an evening stroll on the boardwalk (where I was downright chilly I might add!), had a Kohr’s orange/ vanilla twist frozen custard - a MUST!
They had to move graduation indoors due to fear of inclement weather, so I had to watch in the cafeteria on the video screen as each student only got 3 tickets for the gym. I still was glad I flew up there for her, Niece’s speech made me very proud, and the afterparty was huge fun!

I’m out of here after work tomorrow for a mini weekend getaway - headed home to the Jersey shore for my neice’s graduation, and to spend some time with Cousin. Looking forward to a few days away, and a nice crumb bun from Baldanza’s Bakery on Route 9 in Pine Beach!! I packed tonight, yes I am a last minute packer!!

I started my new Thyroid RX today, and spent most of my day listeing to my body for possible side effects. I am a worry wart! I actually READ that paper that they staple to your RX at the pharmacy - every word!! Did you know it could be fatal to mix your thyroid RX with diet pills? Who knew? Not that I know the list of best diet pills, or take any for that matter. You’re also not supposed to take it within 4 hours of any iron or magnesium (Hint: MULTI VITAMIN)….I was taking it in the morning with all my vitamins/supplements, need to call the Dr and see if that is an OK mix.

You all have a good weekend, I’ll be out of here for a few days!!

If you like oatmeal, I have a GREAT recipe to share with you - quick, easy, frugal, and VERY TASTY!

Amish Baked Oatmeal

2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 c brown sugar
1 c milk
1/2 c oil
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanillla
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 c oatmeal (in the tub, NOT instant)

Mix everything together in a bowl, add oatmeal LAST - pour into an 8 x8 baking dish and bake at 350 for 30 mins.

Obviously, it would be much better on a cool fall/winter morning - but hey, if I waited for one of those around these parts I’d never get to try it! I sprinkled a little cinnamon on it before serving, and it was AWESOME!! Tomorrow I think I am going to have it with some plain yogurt and fresh fruit on top!
**You can adjust the recipe to taste, I only used 1 tsp salt.

I am a BIG fan of Sex and the City.
Watched the original series on HBO.
Cancelled my HBO as soon as it was over, when the C.S. rep asked me why I was cancelling…I responded matter of factly “Because Sex and the City has ended…why else would I need it?”
I have every season on DVD.
I still watch the edited for TV reruns on TBS, and can recite the edited words!

SO. There was no doubt in my mind when they started talk of a movie that I was going to see it.
On the big screen.
Opening weekend.
They got my $9.50 yesterday.
I sat in a theatre full of giggling, cackling women - some of them dressed to the hilt as if they were at a red carpet affair - and watched my movie. Our movie.
I didn’t know any of them.
But we are part of a sisterhood.
We laughed.
We cried.
We applauded.

I LOVED it.

Whatever happened to a HALF GALLON of ice cream?

As I was browsing the aisles of my local Publix today, I noticed something. The ice cream shrunk.
At first, I thought it was me…..but, no, I confirmed it. Allow me to explain myself, and feel free to offer your thoughts.

Publix carries 4 brands of ice cream.
Publix Premium, sold in a HALF GALLON for $4.29.
Breyers, sold in 1.75 Liters, anywhere from $4.99-$5.29
Blue Bell, sold in a half gallon for $5.29 - and they have printed in big bold letters right on the tub “STILL A FULL HALF GALLON” .
Edy’s sold in 1.75 liters, $4.59-$5.29.

As I was looking at all the ice cream containers, I noticed something. Edy’s changed their packaging a little….the color scheme was different..and something else was off…? What was it..?
And, then……I got it.
The container was smaller.
I was sure of it.
I looked closer, and behind the new ones was an old container…..yep. a FULL INCH SHORTER, and the new one was not any fatter to make up for it. On closer inspection, it was 1.5 Liters!!
ONE POINT FIVE.
I looked over at the Breyers, and damn if they didn’t do the same thing! 1.5 liters! I KNOW they used to be 1.75 liters - not quite a full half gallon - not they are shorting us even more! And, they are real subtle about it, sneaking in the fancy new label thinking we wouldn’t notice that the tub was smaller! AND, doing it right before summer starts knowing how much we WANT our ice cream!!
Bastards!
ICE CREAM - of all things to short me on, do NOT mess with my ice cream!!
it’s not enough that the price of everything has gone up and we have to emtry our savings account to buy milk and eggs…… now we have to keep an eye on the containers too?
FREAKING COMMIES!!

So, keep a wary eye out shopper, because you may not be getting your money’s worth on your ice cream aisle!!

I now have 4 incomplete sets of wine glasses! I have those under counter mounted wine racks for your glasses, and every time I reach into the treat jar to get something for snoopy, it seems I knock one of the glasses, and have now officially broken 3 of them, each from a different set! I’m thinking it was a bad idea to mount one on the same side of the counter as the microwave…..either that, or just a bad idea to store stuff on top of the microwave. Lack of space seems to be my main issue in the kitchen, whcih forces me to mount things under the cabinets, and on top of the microwave.

OK, so everyone watched the American Idol finale last night, right? Yeah. I did not watch all season, but there was nothing else on last night so I tuned in for the finale. Of course, it’s an hour and 58 minutes of fluff, faded has-been singers, and all the runners up doing cheesy song and dance numbers….and then they announce the winner. Yeah David Cook, congratulations, you are very talented.
My big question of the night is….what in the blue hell happened to George Micheal????!!!
Is it just me, or is he NOT aging well at all??!!
Maybe it’s all the drugs?
MAN.
I used to think he was THE HOTTEST thing going!
I drooled over WHAM!
Faith was the first CD I ever owned…I played it ALL THE TIME.
I drove all the way to Orlando ON A WORK NIGHT to see him in concert!
I dated a guy just because he had the facial hair fuzz thing like George did.
And now? Psshhh. I thought he looked horrible.

It seems everything I read these days is about cutting costs, budgeting and being thrifty. It’s on the local news, in the papers, magazines..internet. It’s everywhere. Being thrifty is cool. Who would have thought?

People have teased me for years for being thrifty, some have even chuckled and called me cheap. I carry my lunch and my morning coffee to work to save money. I have a water filter on my faucet so I do not have to waste money on bottled water. I take my coupon file with me every time I go to the store. I keep a change jar and take it to the bank when it is full and deposit it to savings. I look for free and cheap outings in my area. I don’t wear fancy overpriced designer jewelry.
Now, you are doing the same thing I’ve been doing for years and blaming it on the recession. I hope you have been listening to me as I spoke of saving your money, cutting costs, clipping coupons and not charging everything on credit.
You want to know how to get through these difficult financial times we are dealing with?

Don’t laugh at my free sample postings - sign up for them! I have an entire stockpile under my sink of travel size toothpaste, lotions, shampoos, deodorant, - so much that I have started to give it away - and it was all FREE!
Don’t poo-poo my coupon + sale price posts that get me loaves of bread and boxes of cereal for next to nothing out of pocket - go out and get yourself a good deal at the grocery by doing the same thing! Challenge yourself