Frugal: Then and Now

Then:  I was talking to my oldest son the other day about how, as a struggling, single mom, I used to squash the toilet paper roll to help "discourage" my boys from "free rollin'" the toilet paper. (It didn't work because one of those smarty pants must've figured it out & would always mash it back into it's circular shape) Anyhoo, he laughs & tells me that he didn't know it was me doing it, he just always thought I bought packages that had been mashed at the store!

Now:  I buy the good stuff ('cause that's what hubby requires) but I personally limit myself to three sheets at a time (as needed~meaning I may use several three-sheets-at-a-time, depending. And that's all you need to know. ;) ) TMI? maybe.

She Thought of Me

A while back, my daughter went on a field trip with her class to the Renaissance Festival. She brought back a lot of photos and good memories. She also brought me this ring. So thoughtful and sweet. Amidst all the fun and excitement she thought of me. Priceless.
 (She also brought me a bracelet but I forgot to photograph it. I will soon! Because I LOVE IT!!!)

Easy Cheese Danish



After purchasing a store bought cheese danish only to find nary a bit of cheese in the whole thing, I remembered an old recipe hiding in the dark in my pantry in a hand-written family heirloom cookbook that I found abandoned on a dusty shelf in times gone by.

So, I dug it out, added the needed ingredients on my "last chance" before Christmas shopping list. We would have cheese danish on Christmas eve. And Christmas morning if it lasted that long.

I know there are many versions of this but this is the one I know & love.

 

Cheese Danish

 

what you'll need:

2 pkgs crescent rolls (I used Pillsbury)

2 pkgs (8 oz.) cream cheese

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 egg (separated)

1 cup powdered sugar

2 Tbsp. milk (about)

 

what you'll do:

Lay one pkg. of crescent rolls (unseparated) in a 13"x9" pan. (this is easier at room temp.) Pinch together at seams.

Mix the cream cheese, vanilla, 1 cup regular sugar and the egg yolk together in a bowl (I used an electric hand mixer) until blended smooth & creamy. Pour over rolls in baking pan. Roll second pkg. of crescent rolls out over the top of the cream cheese mixture.Whisk the egg white with a fork or whisk until frothy & brush onto the top crescent roll layer lightly with a pastry brush.

Pop into a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until golden brown (about 30 minutes).

When the pastry is almost done baking, whisk together the powdered sugar & milk in a bowl until well combined & a good consistency for glazing. Drizzle glaze onto pastry while still hot from the oven. Refrigerate until set. Serve at room temperature.

(If you can wait that long ;) this is seriously one of those things I have a hard time stopping eating. Until it's gone.

(but that could be said for many things...)

 

 

whole package of crescent roll contents rolled out into the pan

 

cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and egg yolk

 

above ingredients beaten til smooth

cream cheese mixture pours easily atop crescent roll dough in baking pan before gingerly (ha) spreading out to cover dough completely

 

second package of crescent roll dough being unfurled on top of cream cheese filling

 

done. as good as its gonna get. aim to cover all the filling possible but if it doesn't quite meet each edge, don't worry about it.

 

 frothy egg white 

 

brushing egg white onto dough with one hand while praying I don't drop my camera onto egg white, dough & cream cheese goo from the other

 

confectioners sugar & milk glaze drizzled onto warm, fresh from the oven deliciousness

with glaze spread hither & yon

Now you're supposed to refrigerate but eat at room temperature. What?!!! Who made that up? I cooled it in the  fridge until it wouldn't fall apart when we cut it.
And then we ate it.
The end.

Merry Christmas!



The AVON Corner~Mega Impact Eyeshadow

 

*Please note: links below may take you to my personal Avon website
One of my newest Avon "faves" is the Mega Impact Eyeshadow in Flash Black.

It's intensely pigmented and can be used wet or dry. I love to use the black as an eyeliner applied wet and the off white color makes a beautiful brow bone highlight! (I'm very fair and some black eyeliners are just too harsh for me. Used wet with an eyeliner brush, this is "just right".)

(this was taken indoors with overhead lighting)







Right now, as of C26 2012, (page 39 in the brochure) it's only $4.99! Using it the way I am, as a liner & highlight, it will last for A LONG TIME! However, I do think it would make a beautiful smoky eye as well and fully intend on experimenting with it in that way when I'm in a smoky eye kinda mood!



There are other gorgeous color duos to choose from in shades that would suit just about anyone!
~TJ

Our Old Fashioned Thanksgiving

I thought I would share a few pictures of our little family get together we had on Thanksgiving day. After experiencing a rough year, we decided to keep the day quiet and intimate, free of the pressure that having a gaggle of guests can bring. Although I cut back on a lot of what I normally do by insisting EVERYTHING be made from scratch, I still spent the majority of the day in the kitchen. Mike made the turkey as he always does, and I made the sides. The result was delicious, as always.



the guest of honor!

always two of our very favorite "guests"~my son and grandson

kiss the cook!





 

We hope YOU enjoyed your Thanksgiving day!

~TJ





It's a Beautiful Day!

With the Thanksgiving holiday behind us and the Christmas season upon us, I just want to check in and say I hope everyone has been, and will be, enjoying the best this season has to offer!

I have not been keeping up with my frugal five nor my weekly to do's but, rest assured, I am still frugal and "to doing". In fact, I thought I'd share one of my happiest frugal things as of late. The flowers above were purchased as a mark down gift flower at the grocery store for $2.99. When I bought it, it was still in bloom so I set it by the front door to give a cheery "hello" to visitors and passers-by. When the blooms faded, I snipped off all the spent blooms, put the plant in a sunny but protected spot to see what would happen, if anything. I have watered it almost daily (we are still seeing temps in the 80's on some days even in November!) and am happily surprised that it is putting on a happy, colorful show!

Back soon. In between life happening!

Enjoy your day!
~TJ