OH SO GOOD......Iced Mocha!

Do we all love the Starbucks?

I LOVE coffee, no matter what time of day it is, but I do try to limit myself to two cups a day (usually). I try o.k.

In the hot summer, my sister and I love iced coffee. We love Starbucks iced coffee, Dunkin Donuts iced coffee, and even Mc D's iced mocha. What I don't like is paying $3-5 for a coffee.

Maybe once a month or so as a special treat. Until now!!

I have a recipe for the most awesome Iced Mocha coffee. In my opinion, it gives Starbucks a run for their money. Seriously, it's that good!!

I found the recipe in a magazine. Of course, I had to tweak it a bit to make it my own.

Ingredients:

• Really strong chilled coffee...at least 3 Tablespoons of coffee to 1 cup of water. Make several cups at once because you will want another. Trust me! Put coffee in the fridge or freezer until chilled.
  
  
  

• milk
• chocolate syrup
• crushed ice
• flavored creamer if you like (my husband loves French Vanilla creamer)

Drizzle the bottom of your cup with chocolate syrup. Add about a cup of crushed ice, and a splash of liquid flavored creamer if it suits your fancy. Pour on the strong coffee (I'm talkin, grow hair on your chest strong). Top with milk and stir.

Nothing exact with the measurements...just a little more of this or a little less of that until it's what you like. I prefer less sweet with more coffee and a splash of milk. Top with whip cream if you want.

Try it!! You will luv luv luv it! So will your wallet!

Party Time

My girl turns four.....oh, how the years are passing so quickly. I miss having a baby. I miss her being my baby. I loved holding this sweet little bundle all swaddled in her blanket, rocking, and singing to her for hours. If only we could pause time for a moment more. Savoring those precious moments that come and go. So quickly, that if your not focused on them, you could very well miss them altogether.

My girl and her new cat Fluffy.

She's been asking me for a cat for weeks.

Grandma surprised her!

No Fluffy is not real, but sometimes it's hard to tell.

She purrs, licks her paws, and meows just like a real kitty.

Fluffy will do for now!

Finally, the Dora pinata is going down.

We have held onto Dora since Gracie's 2nd birthday.

Yes, I am a saver!

My name is Brandi....and I am a birthday party decoration saver.
please help me.....

The other wished for item, a mud pie maker.

Mama knows,

you only wanted this because the sink really has water and the mixer really works.

You told me so many times! :)
This will be many hours of fun this summer.

Boys, taking over her kitchen.

I know how you feel baby.

Lately, your daddy is in my kitchen more than me.

BOYS!!!

Of course, she had to bring the day to a close like this.

Happy Birthday my sweet girl!

Love,

mama

popsicles and cannon balls

So, it's that time of year again.

When every afternoon, is spent in the water until little hands and feet are pruned.

When I hear, over and over "CANNON BALL!!"

The most fun and relaxing time of year. The school books are tucked away for a little while. Cousin Carlee's coming to visit for two weeks of fun in the sun.Endless popsicles and ice cream treats.

Hair is getting blonder, skin is a lil' sun kissed, and the smell of Coppertone lingers in the air.

Summer time!

It's almost a magical time for little people.

I remember when...

This will be a Summer of "YES"

Yes, we can go swimming everyday.

Yes, Carlee can stay another week.

Yes, you can have popsicles and ice cream everyday.

Yes, we can go to the water park.

Yes, Yes,and Yes.

The laundry might pile up,

The dishes may sit in the sink,

but

we are making memories here.

Think I will hang a sign on the front door that reads...

My house was clean last week...sorry you missed it. :)

Hope your Summer is full of fun and joy!

Another year lived...

and lived well.

My sweetheart took me out for a night on the town. Which really means, dinner and a movie. It was so nice to sit and talk during dinner and hold hands during the movie. Robin Hood was very good. Russell Crowe was a very handsome long bow carrying, arrow shooting, hero of the story. The movie kind of reminded us of Gladiator (which we loved) in the whole epic story sorta way. Let me tell ya, those folks really needed a toothbrush. You'll understand if you see the film.

My man was my handsome hero of the day.

He made this delectable treat for my birthday. Homemade carrot cake (my fave) with real cream cheese frosting. It da bomb yo!! Seriously, he even pulled the carrots from the garden. Now, if that's not homemade.....



For supper, he pulled together a lil surf and turf. I don't know but it feels like today must have been my birthday or something.

My babies poured on the love and I soaked it all in.

I finished the day sitting on the front porch with a cup of coffee, a cool breeze, enjoying the sound of a Summer rain.

Contentment in this life!

Finding the Deals...

It's been a while since I posted about grocery shopping and frugal finds. I'm still couponing every week but I no longer shop for the cheapest food at the market. After all, this is the sustenance that is going into our bodies. There are somethings you don't want just because it's cheap.




This weeks best deals and savings...I made a rare stop by the Food lion for a stock up sale on Edy's ice cream and fruit bars (Big girl birthday party coming up). With the Edy's the more you buy the more you save. They were 1.99-$1/2mf cp=1.49 each. Tostitos are bogo at 3.99 and I had a tear pad coupon for a free bag of kettle chips when you buy 2 tostitos. Remember all that homemade salsa we are about to make......I just found its match. (I likes me some tostitos and salsa when we're out by the pool.):)


In our efforts, to be choosier about our food, we have switched to all organic milk and meat. Some good friends, included us in the purchase of all grass fed beef. We purchased 1/4 of a cow for two dollars per pound. For $200 we filled our freezer with lean, delicious, hormone/antibiotic free beef.


Also, at Food Lion, All detergent for $2.99-$2.00 manf. coupon=.99 each. Good stock up price! I have six months worth of detergent in my stockpile but when I find it for $1.00.....stock it.

Last, my stop by the Publix (iheartpublix).

Quick list:

Orvill R. popcorn bogo 2.99-2x.75manf.cp=.75 each box.

Betty Crock. brownies at %50 off 1.31-$1/2=.81 each

Crystal Light bogo at 3.99-$1.00cp= $1.00 each (these are 4.00 regular price) I love Crystal Light and I had 14 on my list but they where out of stock, but I got my trusty rain check for next week. We really go through this stuff on hot Florida days. I need to replenish my supply. :)

Ritz bogo last week on rain check for 3.69-2.00cp=.85 each

Kellogg's cereal bogo 4.39-.70 blinkie=1.50 each (stock up price for cereal)

Infusium shampoo+conditioner FREE.....5.99 each -bogo publix cp -3.00 manf.cp -3.00 Walgreens competitor coupon.

Aussie shampoo and styling product on sale 2.39-2.00manf cp.=.39 each

Have I said lately that I love Publix. They really go above and beyond.....and shopping is always a pleasure. Not just because they have a awesome coupon policy and I get free shampoo. The staff are always so friendly, the store is always clean, and I love their Greenwise products. No one snarls at me when I hand over my stack of coupons. :) Over this past year, I see so many shoppers with their big coupon notebooks. That is not me!! I carry a tiny little binder and it is well organized. The notebook stays home, where all the planning is done before I get to the store. I have a list, my coupons organized (almost OCD like people) and I get in and get out. Mission Accomplished!!!

The YODA of coupons.....just jokin yaw...;p

Please don't think I feed my family brownies and chips for dinner. If you have never read my couponing101 post (August 09), then you probably don't get my method of shopping. I shop for the staples like milk and bread weekly but I stockpile the best deals each week. This way I never pay full price when I need something. We grow our own produce and what we don't grow, I buy locally grown. Eggs.....well those are fresh every morning.

I'm just curious, any couponing HOME ECONOMIST visiting here??

Lovely day to you!

(all of these deals can be matched up at southernsavers.com and iheartpublix.com)

Everybody's Granny

Mamie Lee Woodard

Born to this Earth January 27, 1917 - Departed into Heaven May 15, 2010When I think of her,

the scripture from 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 immediately comes to mind.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

These words are the embodiment of this precious lady.

Just about everyone that knew her called her granny.

Even her own children referred to her as "granny."

(photo above is of five generations)

Great Granny Woodard, my grandmother, my mother, myself, and my first born.



Garrett and his great great grandmother!


Today during her funeral, I felt deep sadness. Not for granny but for me!
It overwhelmed me, that I wish so much, I had known her better.

It seems, the times we made the trip to visit her was during a large celebration.
She was one of ten children and she had six children of her own, 35 grand children, 101 great grands, and now great great grands, plus friends....she was always surrounded with love.
But
these large gatherings left little one on one time.

Hearing stories about her today....
made my heart long to sit with her again.
To have her wrap her sweet little arms around me and say "you come visit granny."
She has always said these words to me, ever since I was a little girl.
It was her old claw foot tub that I wrote about in an earlier post.
So many memories in her little ole two story house.
Today, was the first time in a few years that I returned to her house.
It was the first time without her and her, most wonderful, three layer German chocolate cake.
She was a Southern lady through and through....born in Cordele, Georgia.

She could cook like a Southern lady too!

(my mother and Granny Easter 80's)




Her home was a place of hospitality.
(While some struggle in this area)
she always used her home to welcome you in.


Always quick to share a word of wisdom with you.
My mom always makes reference to her "now Granny Woodard always says......"

Yes, I heard that a lot growing up and still to this day.
I call it Granny wisdom. ;)




Her 90th Birthday party. Our family gathered around her.
One of many many large family photos taken that day.



In all my years,
I never heard her use bad language or say anything mean about another person.
Her voice was as soft as the heart beating in her chest.



I will miss you sweet precious granny!
Until that day we shall meet on that beautiful shore.

~(written for my children Garrett and Grace. So you will know and remember her.)

Green Beans in the Garden

What says Summer more than, snapping green beans on the front porch. I remember so many summer days sitting on my grandfather's porch shelling peas by the bushel. We would shell so many beans my thumbs would be raw for days. We're doing our best to create those same memories (and skills) for our children.

It is my hope for them, to know how to grow and preserve their own food. This world is uncertain at times. We must know how to provide for ourselves and others.

These lessons, you just won't find in school but you will in our school.



This is a learning experience for our entire family.
We had never canned vegetables before today.
It was really very easy!
We hope to be canning all Summer, filling the pantry with our harvest.

All you really need is a pressure canner and jars.

Fresh organically grown and preserved green beans.

Spend time with your family learning something new this Summer.

Learn to bake fresh bread, plant seeds in the earth, harvest a crop of something even if it is just tomatoes. Real soon, we will be in abundance of tomatoes. I plan on canning tomato sauce, making fresh salsa, and anything else I can think of with all these tomatoes.

From my homestead to yours, blessings to you!

(If you have any questions on how to can vegetables, I'm happy to help.)