Yeah, Baby

I did it.  I stayed within my budget for the 28 Day Coupon Challenge.  And, I extended it to the end of the month, making it 31 days.

Total spent: $199.92.

And even better, I have the entire weekend home with Tim - usually I'm working the restaurant.  

And, and, and, I just got a stack of FREE coupons.

Yeah, Baby.

Diggers

Mom's busy cleaning up all the holes we made in the back yard.  She doesn't want Daddy to see them.  I told her not to worry.  With this face, I can get away with anything.

My First Whopper

Never ever had one before today.  Thought I'd give it a go.

Only they slapped it together in a big rush, using out of season veg, a tasteless burger, and sweat-soaked bun.

This is not something I will order again.  Nopers.

Besides, my home-ground chicken burgers are way better.  Plus they don't give me a belly ache.  And guess what tomorrow is?  It's the day I get to go buy more chicken.

Good-bye poorly constructed Whopper with crappy veg.  Hello homemade chicken burgers on fiber-rich buns.

Num, num, num.

What Am I?

Cracked

Back from work and the chiropractor's office.  My spine and bum leg both feel pretty darn good.  My severity level is down to a four and I'm happy about that. 

So to celebrate, I made you all pepperoni and cheese filled thingies.  Simply select the easy to use teleport button provided by Blogger, and enjoy.

Catch you next time and boogie boogie :-)

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GUESS WHAT TODAY IS?

It's four days before I'm allowed to go couponing again.  Even better, it looks like I'm gonna make that 200 Buck Challenge, after all.

Woohoo.

I wasn't for sure if I'd make it, but it looks like I'll be a hair under.  I'll know more when I finish crunching them there numbers.  But so far ... it's lookin' good.

And in four more days, I get to go ingredient shopping.

Double woohoo.

Life is Good

Came home from work to a clean house and a pile of coupons.  Tim even bought me an additional surprise bonus paper that has 504 dollars worth of savings.

Keep your diamonds, fancy cars and expensive pearls.  There's nothing like coming home to a pile of new coupons, a clean house, and a good man.

Life is good.

And check it out, I did a Sleestak Takeover at Gothridge Manor, using this image I found some time ago.  

Meanwhile, I'm home from a long day at the restaurant.  I'm stinky and I need a shower.  Cheers and boogie boogie.

Spiders & Dice

Boogie Boogie

Boogie boogie and a great BIG Happy Spring and Autumnal Equinox.

For me it's a holiday.  And like each new seasonal celebration, I make a three month goal and we exchange gifts.

This is what Tim got me.

And when I put it on my table, it doesn't move around or anything.  I don't even need a wet paper towel underneath.

And I got one for work, too.  Am I spoiled or what?

Blew My Wad too Soon

Because now I only have $31.00 to last until the 28th.  Insert F-bomb.

Hard to stretch that buck, but I'm glad I'm doing it.  Next month, I'll up it a bit, but not by much.  Just enough to cover things we always buy like toothpaste and crapper paper.

Wait, I no longer pay for toothpaste.

Good thing too, because it looks like we'll be eating grilled toothpaste sandwiches, soon enough.

But not today.

Today, it's spicy chicken thighs that I seared (skin down), in cast iron and then baked (skin up), in the same skillet.

Note: I used a smaller cast iron skillet to help press the skin closer to the skillet.  Some people use foil wrapped bricks.

Bake Temp & Time: 450F (230C) (Gas Mark 8)
25 minutes for a single serving.  About 35 for a double.   

Or if you're more comfortable on a lower heat of 350F, 180C, or Gas Mark4, just adjust the cooking time accordingly.   And remember to take into consideration, the size of the thighs. 

Most Important:  Is that I let the meat rest for at least 15-20 minutes, on a plate.  The result is juicy meat with a wonderful crispy skin.  And, it's about a billion times better than grilled toothpaste sandwiches.

Or so I would think.

Seasoned with Hungarian Paprika and Organic Cayenne
Click to Expand Image

Super Duper

Last night was a rough one.  Lots of tossing, turning and pain - after I twisted the bum leg and set my healing time, back.

Woke up a bit grumpy, shall we say ... 

But after I started moving, things felt a billion times better and I hit the markets.  I even got to enjoy the store cafe.  And better than that, the market was nearly empty.

Absolute heaven.

That's about all from me.  I'm still feeling good and so it's time for chores.  Plus, my car isn't coupon-friendly, yet.

One Super Duper Coupon Car, coming up.

But first, check out the color on this baby.  Grilled with the perfect amount of sweet Hungarian paprika and mayo on the outside, and cheese and spicy habanero on the inside.

I haven't cut it open yet.  But I'm about too. 

17 Days Left

It's a frickin' beautiful sunny morning, and I love it.

Meanwhile, here at the Manor, I have 17 days left of my coupon challenge, and I've already cracked into my second 100 dollars.

The $200 limit is a challenge but I'm going to see it through until I reach day 28.  Then reevaluate and set up the next 28 day challenge.

So for now, I'm making my way to the end, little by little, coupon by coupon.  Thanks for reading and boogie boogie.

I Played Today

And made a new batch of doggy treats.

I smashed carrots and bits of chicken (both leftover from homemade chicken stock).  Then I added Irish oats and flour, until the mixture was dough-like.  Rolled the dough and cut. 

Baked at 350F (176C).  Flipped them half-way through and took them out when they were done.  About 30 minutes.

I also rolled some of the dough into logs and cut into bite sized training treats.  And if you wanted, you could roll the dough flat and use fun cookie cutter shapes.

And that was my day.  I got to be home on a Saturday which is rare.  Then tomorrow back to work and tomorrow night, Worst Cooks in America.

I love that show.

That's all for now.  Hope you're having an oogie boogie day. 

Actual Size

Dumb Luck

I want to play in my kitchen.  And since Tim asked for a recipe for his zine, I'll work on that.

He wants something easy for gamers to make and eat.  So I'm going with these yummy little cheese and pepperoni baked thingys.

For which I'll need a better name.

Meanwhile, the score I recently made was just dumb luck.  I hadn't planned on the purchase.  But with an organized coupon binder and a store drop down, I snagged 'em.

Check it out.

$0.99 -- Cost of item with in-store price drop.
$1.00 -- Value of manufacture coupon.
$2.00 -- Big K doubled the value (restrictions apply).
--------
Note: Use of the $1 coupon required a purchase of 2 Tums.
----------
$1.98 --  Total before coupon.
$1.98 -- *Subtract value of coupon.
----------
$0.00 -- Final cost.

*It's noteworthy to add that BigK (K-Mart), does not pay overage.  Overage is when the coupon is worth more than the item, and the overage goes either in my pocket or is applied to the rest of my order.

However, BigK's computer should automatically adjust the price of the coupon to match the item or items.  In this case, $1.98 - still making my item FREE.

I used 3 coupons in the same transaction. 6 Tums, total.

Here's the other thing, the manager didn't know what doubles up to a dollar meant.  So it's important to know the store's coupon policies.  She told me double up to a dollar meant they only doubled coupons worth 75 cents.

Very nicely (it's important to be nice but firm), I explained that double up to a dollar means, just that.  For every $1 manufacture coupon, it will be doubled to $2.

Where she got 75 cents, I'm not sure.

Also note, the register didn't ring my Tums in at the drop down price.  They had just dropped the price and the computers weren't caught up.

So again, nicely (but firm), I told her she needed to do a price adjustment for said items.  No problem.

And lastly, the mascara I purchased was a buy one get one free, and again, the computer didn't scan the correct price.  It took her three times to ring the correct total.  Of which I saved 75% off my purchase and scored $30 in free Tums.

And that's how I did it.

2 Day Work Week

I'm on a super duper short work week, which I am happy about.  Then in a couple of weeks it's going to be nutso again when one of the preppies goes on holiday for 10 days.

But for now at least, I'm in my jams, watching educational coupon lessons on the 360 (Xbox Live), while I take notes and hang out with my two favorite coupon buddies.

And the correct answer for yesterday's post is .... FREE.  Instead of paying 30 bucks, I got the entire lot for FREE.

And, and, and, my total savings for that trip to the Big K, after coupons and sales, was 75%.  My best yet.

This is Bug's head.  She got sleepy watching coupon videos.
She's such a lightweight.

Tim's Cooking Tonight

And that means pizza and wings from up the road.  Which is perfect, because I'm pooped from work.

So tonight, all I want to do is clip coupons and not do dishes.  But first, I want to show you yesterday's score.

Guess how much I paid for these?

Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle

No real blog today, as I am off from the restaurant and knee deep in bills, coupons, and homemade chicken stock. 

Until next time, please enjoy this dancing M&M.  I love at the very end, when he wiggles and his little eyes pop out.

Worst Cooks

Stale bread and vomit flavored jelly bellies for everyone who played.

The answer was Lucy.

To escape the closet unnoticed, she pretended to be a chair.  Great scene.

If you haven't seen Tim's post, please check it out.

Meantime, I'm off to make supper and soon watch my favorite Sunday show, Worst Cooks in America.  It's one of the only two shows on TV right now, that I watch while it airs.  New episode tonight at 9pm on the Food Network.

Have a groovy night and an oogie boogie week.

Who Am I? Quiz 12

200 Buck Challenge

I realize some couponers get by on a lot less, but I'm not one of them.  I'm a scratch cook in need of ingredients for both our house and my book.

My Goal: Only spend 200 smackers during the next 28 days.

This includes all ingredients, cleaning agents, toiletries and paper towels.

Fuck me.  I don't know if I can do it.  And, I believe that's the first time ever F-bombed my own blog.  I'm keeping it in.