Back Burner

I have missed out on telling you all about so many deals. I am SORRY! It's been a really hectic few weeks here with school and work and everything else (which is a lot.)

In a few short weeks, I will be back to my normal, blogg-y self. Until then, I will try my best to get you those deals and brilliant information I come across posted.

Back to the grind.

Dedicated to my favorite Pups

Critter and Vader

Head to True Chews on Facebook and Like them.  You should be able to print a coupon for $1.50 off an True Chews product.   Combine that with a coupon from PetSmart and you’ll got got some FREE dog treats.  There is also a PetSmart coupon for $1 off any True Chews product that can be stacked.  You have to be a Pet Perks member to get this coupon; but it’s free to sign up.
Here’s the Deal:
True Chews Bully Stick Dog Chew OR True Chews Natural Pork Ear Dog Treat $2 at PetSmart
$1.50 Facebook printable
$1 PetSmart printable
= FREE!

July 4th ... in bed

You're reading that correctly. I spent the entire holiday weekend in bed. Mostly watching the first 3 seasons of Gilmore Girls- Thanks Chrissy, best gift ever.

Friday morning I went in to have my wisdom teeth pulled. A seemingly simple procedure that, thank god, I chose to be put under for. I was pretty nervous about the whole thing. The surgeon told me that once they put the IV in, I would be out and it would be over before I knew what had happened. He was right, although I doubted his every word prior to that.

Roo was awesome. He sat in the waiting room for gimpy little me to be done with my surgery. I don't remember being woken up, or how I got into the 'recovery room'. All I remember is opening my eyes and there was Roo sitting next to me. I just wanted to sleep. They (meaning everyone else) wanted me to stay awake until the incisions clotted. Mostly so that I didn't choke on the massive amount of gauze in my pie hole.

Roo had to go pick up my pain killers from the pharmacy. Because it was a given that I would pass out if left alone for even less than a minute, he brought me into the pharmacy with him. It was maybe 100ft to walk to a chair. I couldn't make it. The world started going fuzzy and flashing in and out of view. I was literally going to pass out, not just fall asleep! The pharmacist (one of them at least) came over and put a pillow behind my head as I put myself- most likely clumsily- onto the floor.

I guarantee you all that it was the anesthesia that was making me feel this way. Oh yeah, or the fact that it was already noon and I hadn't eaten pretty much since 3pm the previous day.

We made our way home and Roo, the gentle guy that he is, took such great care of me. I was so spoiled. Everyone helped out, bringing by soft foods for me to eat and calling to check in on my progress. Thanks everyone for that.

Unfortunately, I missed the entire long holiday weekend. I had Friday, Monday AND Tuesday off. All of it was filled with pudding, yogurt and mashed potatoes. In lieu of missing the fireworks, here are some of my own to share:

Now That's FREE

There is a daily deals site that is pretty new. It has been running a promo this past month for $10 off. What they are doing is every day or two, they sell an amazingly beautiful designer item for $10! Making the item FREE and shipping it out FREE SHIPPING!

Today I scored a free $300 Paige Novick Ring. Sweet.

She's after my own heart- I SWEAR!

HG's Oh-So-Mocha-Coco Swappuccino Wake Me Up Before You Coco... This new recipe is a major eye-opener, and not only because it's made with coffee and chocolate -- it will open your eyes to just how easy it is to make Starbucks-style blendy drinks at home... YAY!!! Ingredients: 2 tsp. shredded sweetened coconut, roughly chopped 2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder 1 tbsp. fat-free non-dairy powdered creamer (like the kind by Coffee-mate) 1 tsp. instant coffee granules 1 tsp. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 no-calorie sweetener packets (like Splenda or Truvia), or more to taste 1/8 tsp. coconut extract 2 cups crushed ice or 10 - 16 ice cubes 2 tbsp. Fat Free Reddi-wip 1 tsp. light chocolate syrup Directions: To toast the coconut, bring a skillet to medium heat on the stove; add chopped coconut and, stirring occasionally, cook for 2 minutes, or until lightly browned. (Or, if you have a toaster oven, just toast until lightly browned.) Set aside to cool. In a tall glass, place cocoa powder, powdered creamer, coffee granules, chocolate chips, and sweetener. Add 1/2 cup very hot water and stir until ingredients have mostly dissolved. Add coconut extract, and transfer contents of the glass to a blender. Rinse the glass, if needed, and set aside. Add ice to the blender, and blend at high speed until completely mixed and smooth. Pour into the tall glass. If you like, add additional sweetener to taste. Top with Reddi-wip, drizzle with chocolate syrup, and sprinkle with toasted coconut. Enjoy! MAKES 1 SERVING Serving Size: entire recipe (about 16 oz.) Calories: 120 Fat: 4.5g Sodium: 24mg Carbs: 21g Fiber: 4g Sugars: 8g Protein: 2.5g PointsPlus® value 3*

Bug Bite

I normally don't get bug bites. The last week I have had 6 annoying little buggers show up in the same general area next to my 'bad knee'. The first aid drawers here at work often have a LOT of random health related items in it. To my surprise, there was no anti-itch ointment. I had to find a remedy and fast. It was getting really bad. And so began my search for tips on how to stop my leg from itching...

Household Items To Relieve Itching

1. Rub a bar of soap over the itch. I just tried this (Ivory soap) and the relief was near instant. I used a dry bar of soap directly on the skin, but I also have notes that you can spritz bite with water and then run bar of soap over area–or use a wet bar of soap.
2. Place a piece of scotch tape on the bite; or dab rubbing alcohol or ammonia on the bite first then stick on a piece of tape.
3. Hot water: Take a hot shower, or a hot bath, or apply a hot compress. As hot as you can stand it without burning you.
4. Ice cube, ice pack or very cold water

Dabbers For Itch Relief

The quicker you can apply one of the remedies below, the faster the relief. These are topical suggestions, apply directly to the bite area.

1. Nail Polish
2. Strong tea mixed with rubbing alcohol
3. Toothpaste (works for me)
4. Mouthwash
5. Vinegar (apply directly to bite or take a hot bath with 2 cups of vinegar in the water)
6. Honey
7. Underarm deodorant (solid or roll-on) – apply directly to bite area
8. Rubbing Alcohol
9. Ammonia
10. Bleach
11. Tea: Use a hot tea bag or a cotton ball soaked in hot tea to dab on bite area

Paste Applications

Mix these fresh then apply to bite as soon as possible. The consistency should be nice and thick so it won’t run, yet will still stay in place on the affected area. You could also spritz bite with water then apply grains/powders directly (generously) and rub them in.

1. Baking Soda & Water (works for me)
2. Meat Tenderizer & Water
3. Salt & Water (works for me)
4. Epsom Salt & Water (could also do this as a foot soak if it’s the ankle/foot area affected)
5. Tums Tablets: crush and add a few drops of water
6. Aspirin: crush then add a few drops of water
7. Aspirin – crush then apply a few drops of rubbing alcohol

Commercial Product Lotions, Creams & Applications

*Apply directly to mosquito bite area.

1. Calamine Lotion
2. Benadryl Cream
3. Orajel
4. Anbesol
5. Caladryl
6. Vicks VapoRub (works for me)
7. Preparation H (works for me)
8. Lucas Papaw Ointment
9. Tiger Balm
10. Bag Balm
11. Gold Bond Medicated Cream (or the Gold Bond Medicated Powder)
12. Mylanta (heartburn relief product)
13. After Bite

Essential Oils For Itch Relief

Apply full strength directly to bite area. Edit: There are concerns about using essential oils on children and pre-teens, especially repeated use.

1. Tea Tree Oil
2. Lavender Oil
3. Witch Hazel (astringent)
4. Cedar Oil

Leaf Applications

*Crush the fresh leaves roughly then apply to bite area

1. Basil
2. Plantains (Plantago)

Fruity Applications

*Use fresh fruit & apply directly to bite

1. Lemon Juice
2. Lemon Slice
3. Lime Juice
4. Lime Slice
5. Banana Peel (rub inside of peel on bite)

Whew! Big List! If I’ve missed your favorite remedy for mosquito bites, please add them below.

Notes

• If a remedy doesn’t provide fast relief, don’t despair. Give it another try, sometimes it will take 2 or 3 applications before it kicks in.
• The itch from mosquito bites comes from the saliva of the mosquito that it injects into you as it feasts on your blood. There are several dozen different species of mosquitoes and you may react to some species bites more than others.
• If large swelling occurs (like welts), contact a doctor or pharmacist for suggestions (especially if it’s a child with a strong reaction). It could be an allergy to the bite. It’s important to watch the throat for swelling and get treatment asap.

Organization - It worked for me

Here is an article that helped me organize my pantry into an easy to use, grocery-store-shelf-like space. I makes keeping track of my pantry items a breeze and cuts down on the purchase of unnecessary duplicate items.

 

 

Purge Your Pantry

Organizing your pantry is easier than you think. Follow these three steps to save time in the kitchen.

A Makeover Must

Multiple open boxes of pasta, cans of black beans from who knows when, and jars of spices on every shelf—sound familiar? If so, your pantry needs a makeover. It only takes an hour to clean out the shelves, sort and purge your foodstuffs, and restock in ordered zones. And when dinnertime rolls around, that box of couscous will be a snap to find.

 

 

Empty and Categorize

The first step is to get everything out of your pantry so you can see what you have and start sorting. Separate items into these four categories:

• Items you use every day
• Items you use less frequently
• Unopened items that can be donated to a food pantry
• Expired or suspicious items to trash

To find a local food bank, check feedingamerica.org.

 

 

Clean the Shelves

Now that your pantry is completely empty, take this opportunity to vacuum any crumbs off of shelves and the floor. Then wipe down each shelf with a damp cloth and let dry before reloading. If you need to buy extra containers or organizers to corral items like spice jars, now is the time to do it.

 

 

Restock Smartly

Refilling your pantry in organized zones is the best way to ensure you don’t have to do another pantry overhaul in a couple of months. Start by putting baking items (flour, sugar, baking soda, etc.) in one section and breakfast items in another. If you have kids, set up a snack zone so they can find what they need easily and don’t rifle through the other shelves. Keep heavy items, like jugs of olive oil, on the bottom shelf, and the stuff you reach for every day—lunch ingredients, pet food—at eye level.

Finally, stash a stepstool in the pantry, if you have room, or nearby to make reaching high shelves easy. You’ll be amazed at how much time you can save by being able to locate the couscous on the first try.