How to save at the Farmer's Market & a Fantastic Menu Plan

Hi Everyone,
Chances are there is a Farmer's Market in your area, where you can find fantastic deals along with fresh seasonal produce, and Organic fare. Check this website for listing of  Local Harvest.
Another way to save money is to belong to a Farm share, where you get a certain amount of food a month from the farms. More information here Farm Directory.

There's nothing more pleasant on a Saturday morning, armed with your menu list for the week, taking a stroll among the stall, amid fresh produce, your sensory senses get overfilled with colour and texture.

If you are an early riser and wants to get the best, freshest produce,  arrive at the market 20 mtes early as they are setting up to get the best choices..

If you are looking to save a lot, then arrive 30mtes prior to the closing of the market so you can bargain. Those merchants don't want to take the produce home, any left over will be sold at cost..

What can you find at the Farmer's Market?
It depends some market you can find Art, Clothing, depending of the type of market.
Items to get are the homemade pasta's, dips, sauces, flowers, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and yes I do get organic coffee, the best part they have tasting session so you can sample before you buy.

My favorite hands down is Artisan Cheese. They are crafted by hand using old world technique.

Here are a few pictures of my Farmer's Market, I was there very early at 7.30AM, as they were setting up.  I had the pick of the best tomatoes, plums, Asparagus, Onions, Corn, Peaches. I love the idea of knowing where the food came from, most of the merchants does put signs of what city and states they come from.

Let me know what farmer's market you go to and your favorite tips on savings.

My Menu for the Week 

Monday: Chicken-Penne Florentine Bake

 Tuesday: Pork Chop with Mexican Rice

Wednesday: Easy chicken Rice Divan

Thursday: Mexican Chicken Casserole

Friday: Left over Rice Divan 

 Saturday :  Left Over Mexican Chicken Casserole

 

 Bargains at Walmart...

 

Eggs $.64 cents after coupon. $1 coupon here

Every week I will be posting the Micheal's coupons as they become available.

 

How are you saving money this week? and what are your menu meal plan this week?

Have a great week,

Maggie

How to save at the Farmer's Market & a Fantastic Menu Plan

A huge wild Thank you Card!

Hi Everyone,
A huge thank you for the luvly comments you have left for the drawing of the From My kitchen Cartridge donated by Provo Craft.
The Drawing will take place on the 6th so the more comments you leave, on this week post  the more chances you have :) kewl eh?
Ok The gifts have been opened, ooh ahh over them, the kids are over the moon…..now is the time to create your Thank You cards, I know it seems such a shore, but it doesn’t have to be, why…
The fabulous Wild card cartridge make it so easy to create simple cards..
Here’s a simple Thank You card!

The Journey:

Cut the envelope first so it fits the card, Ink the edges of the envelope, set aside.
Cut the card and ink the edges, add Mambi rhinestones to each section of the scallop.
Cut 4 scallop from Storybook cartridges in ascending sizes ink the edges and spray with glimmer mist, crumple while wet.
Add a button, floss and adhere to the center of the card,
Voila done in less than 15 mtes you have a beautiful simple card.. What could be easier eh?


The Cast:
 Mambi Rhinestone, Uhu Glue, Making Memories papers, Glimmer Mist, Foofala button, floss, Colorbok fluid chalk, Storybook and wild card cartridge from Provo Craft.
Have a fabulous day,
PS don’t forget to leave comments to be in the drawing for the From my kitchen cart :)
Maggie

A huge wild Thank you Card!

Boom, Boom, Boom, Happy New Year & a Giveaway!

ETA: Our Winner of the From My Kitchen is Nathalie from
Scraprat.blogspot.com
Thank you so much everyone, for entering :)
Nathalie please email me at cuttingaboveblog@gmail.com

ETA

Hi Everyone,
Happy New Year! Thank you so much for supporting the blog and leaving comments.

Our New Year plans doesn't involve anything glamorous( gasp!) yeah I know!!!
but that doesn't stop me from creating a simple card by adding a little spark to the  invitation for a few friends.

What are your plans for New Years?

We plan to go to church, then have a few friends over to ring the new year!

Here's the simple card I created.
My biggest challenge was to keep it simple and just use the cuts off the cart.

The Journey:

Cut the envelope first I cut at 7 inches, ink the edges.

Card was cut at 4.5 inches,ink the edges, add bling cut the year out of bling cardstock ink the edges.

The Cast:

Uhu Glue, Wild card cartridge, graphically speaking cartridge , Cricut Expression from Provo Craft, Bling cardstock DCWV, Rhinestone Mambi, Fluid chalk by Colorbok.

Happy New Year!  to start the new right I’m giving away From Kitchen Cartridge!

Cartridge is donated by our sponsor Provo Craft.


What do you need to win?
Easy!
1. Leave a comment
2. sign up as a follower
That easy eh!
Winner will be announced on  January 6th
Maggie

PS the code for the blinkie has changed here is the new one,

Boom, Boom, Boom, Happy New Year & a Giveaway!

Prize Recap!

Hi Everyone,

Merry Christmas everyone :)

I hope you find it in your hart to forgive me for not being active on here, I plan on doing a better job coming this coming  New Year!

You will see we have a new format where we will showcase, stamping ideas, card making ideas,die cut ideas, and give a few prize here and there along the way :)

Here’s a recap of our winners, some of  them  have been notified and prizes have already been sent.

4x6 idea book winner is Christina,

Pink Journey Soneta

we have not heard from

okieladybugsscrapnmore who has won our blinkie patrol :)

alwayscharlie who has also won our blinkie patrol :)

Ladies please contact me at cuttingaboveblog@gmail.com so I can get your prizes out to you :)

Have a great Holiday,

God Bless!

Maggie

Prize Recap!

Provo Craft Cricut Cartridge Storybook & Cupcake Party &Giveaway?

Hi Everyone,

By now I'm sure you think I've had too much sugar and you would be sooo right!!! :) Well with all the excitement of the Gypsy starting at midnight, I couldn't wait to have a cupcake party while watching the show. Then I started thinking. . . why not involve Cricut in helping me make the cutest looking cupcakes in the neighborhood!

I know , I know you are confused right? Ok I’m going to share a secret with you. I don't really care for frosting much.  That’s right, I know that sounds weird. I never have liked icing.  But my DH adores frosting so I always make 2 batches, one for him one for me..(giggles)

Anywho I'm sure you are wondering who is this crazy person.....who doesn't like frosting? Ok by know you know more about me than you wanted to know right??????

Ok let's move on I want to show you a quick fun recipe..

READY????

BTW we are making hot fudge chocolate cupcakes with a center of white chocolate and off course the Cricut yum...

Here's your list of ingredients. (Oh of course you need cupcake pans)

• Pillsbury chocolate cake mix
• Butter
• Vanilla
• Eggs
• Cinnamon Sugar
• Jello (Fudge, Cheesecake)

Let's begin:

1. Mix the eggs and the 2 tbs butter until smooth then add 1 tsp vanilla and mix.
2. Ad 1 1/2 cups milk.
3. Add the jello fudge chocolate sugar free and the cheesecake sugar free until smooth.  Add the cake mixture
4. Melt chocolate in microwave for 1 mte then stir
5. Preheat over to 350 degrees
6. Spoon the cake mixture onto the cupcake liner.  Add the melted chocolate in the middle.  Spoon another mixture on top, see below.
   
   
   

Bake in the oven!

In the meantime , prepare the Cricut to cut the stencil for the decoration for the cupcake. I chose the Storybook cartridge, accent frame  option#5.

Tip:

For the stencil, I used the clam shell the storybook came in.  Great way to recycle packaging.  I used the multi cut, low speed and high pressure setting with blade #6.

Now, I can use the stencil to help me decorate the cupcake with  powder sugar.
Isn’t that kewl???  I can use the Cricut machine from Provo Craft to decorate my cupcakes?

Here's the stencil at work... I'm so excited.  It's a great thing. . .  90% of this cupcake used Splenda.  If I had used sugar, I would be jumping up and down.....(giggles)



Here's the final cupcake.  Isn't it cute????

Now what do you think? Fun eh. Yes, I did use frosting for my DH and DD. They are in happy cupcake frosting land now:)
On to the best part!  We are going to give away a Provo Craft Cricut Storybook Cartridge to one lucky reader!!  All you have to do is

a) leave a comment telling us what you think about the cupcake and

b) become a follower if you haven’t already done so.  It’s that simple!  You can leave as many comments as you want.  Each comment will be counted as one entry.  GOOD LUCK!  

Drawing will end September 29, 2009 at midnight EST and the winner will be drawn/announced on September 30th. 

PS we are still giving 2 Gypsy away more info here

Provo Craft Cricut Cartridge Storybook & Cupcake Party &Giveaway?

Provo Craft Cartridge Reviews!

Hi Everyone,
Thank you so much for stopping by the blog and helping us spread the word about the wonderful information, you can find here.

Below are the different reviews of each cartridge from Provo Craft our Design Team has reviewed!

Stand & Salute Cartridge

Jubilee font Cartridge Review

Keep checking back with us as we review more cartridges.
Have a fabulous day,
Maggie & Michele

Provo Craft Cartridge Reviews!