Busy Busy Bee

I have been super busy lately! We are a little over two weeks away from our wedding (it will be two weeks tomorrow) and the stress is really setting in. I have so much to do! Along with the wedding, am also busy setting hubby and myself up for school again this year (thank goodness it's my last semester) and I have had to go up to the school multiple times. It should be well on it's way to being all set as we speak. I have been doing laundry and cleaning non-stop and working tons this week. Hopefully after the wedding I can de-stress and feel better. More updates when I can, I have to go and (yet again) put a load in the wash and fold the clean one!

48 Waffles later....

Yes! You heard correctly! 48 waffles I have just made with my new waffle maker to freeze for frugal uses........at 11pm.....I am crazy. Now I am going to go do dishes and thank you cards.

First time Cooking with Slow Cooker-- Pictures!!!

The Review:

..........It was GREAT! Thank you Raising a Quiver Full ! It is a wonderful recipe, and I am glad I tried it. It is definitely a keeper. The meat was moist and not too tough and the sauce had a hint of sweetness and a lot of tangy-ness. You all must try this and leave me a comment telling me what you thought of it!

Oh yeah, if you didn't already figure it out, these are our new plates too! So three new things; plates, cooker, and pot roast! lol. I'm a dork

First time Cooking With a Slow Cooker!

I am so excited (And as my coworkers loving call me--domesticated!) today I finally get to cook with my slow cooker! In fact it's been going for about 2 hours now, just two more to go!

Wanna know what I am cooking? Well, I figured since this is the first time I am cooking with a slow-cooker, I thought it would be fitting to cook a piece of meat I have never had the pleasure of cooking yet--Pot Roast. To be more specific, it's Cola Pot Roast . I found the recipe over at Raising A Quiverfull .

I don't really measure dry seasonings, I am just used to how mush is what by eye, so if you feel more comfortable with the measurements, I will include the link to the recipe. I also used only about 3/4 of the onion (I had a REALLY big onion).

Here's a copy of the recipe, or if you would like to see the website it's from click here.

Cola Pot Roast

What You'll Need:

Salt

Pepper

Garlic Powder

1 Onion, Cut up

4 Large Carrots, Cut up

A 3.5-4.5 Roast

1 Bottle of Chili Sauce (12 oz)

2 TBSP of Worecestorshire Sauce

2 TBSP of Hot Sauce

1 Can of Cola

1. Turn on your slow cooker (it says for like 8 hrs cook on low, I did it for 4 hrs on high).

2.Evenly season the meat with the dry ingredients and place it in the middle of the slow cooker. Next, place the cut up onion and carrots around the meat.

3. In a bowl mix all the remaining ingredients well and pour over meat and veggies. Then enjoy!

Its still cooking so, when it's done, I will take pics and tell ya how it tasted!

My Bridal Shower --Pics

My first Bloggie Award!

Wow, the weekend was so hectic that I didn't even realize I was given my first blog award from Camo and Peace Signs !!! I am soooo happy! Thank you so very much! Okay, so I am suppose to post seven tidbits about myself, and then pass the award onto others! Let's give it a try:

Seven Things about Mrs. M:

1. I am getting married (big secret right? lol) to a man I have known for 5 years and been dating for three. You can call him my high-school sweetie! I absolutely love him!

2. I am in a "nesting" phase currently (no I am not pregnant). I think it's because of the upcoming wedding and such. I am ready for Mr. M and I to be a family and start turning our home into a real home!

3. Holiday I am most interested in this year: Christmas. And no, it's not because of the gifts. It's because (and yes this links back up to the "nesting" thing) we (Mr. M and I, no one else) get to get OUR first Christmas tree and have it in OUR living room. I get butterflies and my heart speeds up each time I think about it. I'm crazy right?

4. I didn't get my license until after I had finished my first year of college: Why? Because I hate to drive. Everyone I know loves driving, I do not. I would rather walk or have Mr. M drive me (don't worry, I do drive myself most of the time).

5. I want to be a stay at home mom. I would like to have as many kids as I can (or at least a big family). Hubby said 5 tops it, but if we have the resources, maybe a sixth. I can live with that, lol.

6. Everybody asks me if I am excited/really nervous. I always reply "I am VERY excited, but not nervous. That will come next week" (I've been saying this for 4 months now). I think I only say this to maybe convince myself. In truth, I have been stressing tons. So much that my stress level on a scale of 1 to 10 is a big fat 100 PERCENT.

7. I love to cook and bake! And I am actually good at cooking. ( I will let you all in a secret: One day, one of hubby's friends which I ran into, asked me when I was inviting the guys over to eat. I was like what do you mean? And he was like Well ....... said your cooking is better than his moms, and I will invite myself over if I have to!) Can you believe it? One, hubby was talking about my cooking to his friends and Two, he said MY cooking is better than his moms! Let's not tell the soon to be Mother in Law, lol!

Hope Ya'll enjoyed that! Now here's all the people I have chosen to pass this on to!

Mom of Many

Southern Hospitality

A Marine's Wife!

Mrs Thomas

His Hands His Feet Today

The Ramblings of a Marine Wife

Mommy From the Midwest

Okay, yes I know that's only seven! But I didn't think it fair that I can recieve a blog award and not give it to that person since they have a great blog! So my number 8 bloggie award is going to Camo and Peace Signs ! Please, I recommend you check out her blog she, (so unlike me), is much better at keeping up a blog and I truly enjoy reading her blog!

And my ninth and final award is given to my two followers that have their blogs marked as private. I believe you two deserve an award too!

There's my list and thank you once again Camo and Peace Signs!

Saturday-- Abby and Kevin's Bridal Shower

On this past Saturday we had so much fun at my cousin Kevin and his bride to be Abby's Bridal Shower. They had really good food and some good games (gift/registry bingo, what's in your purse?, and personalized scratch offs). Kevin and Abby are getting married a month after hubby-to-be and I. Here are some pictures:

Excited! Bridal Shower

I will be so busy this weekend. I have two bridal showers to go to, one on Saturday (Cousins) and one on Sunday (Mine :) ). I am so excited that my bridal shower is this weekend. I keep peeking at the online registeries and seeing what people are buying us. I can't wait, I keep smiling! The weather is supposed to be nice 9we will be at a park) But the bad thing is I don't have a pair of shorts/skirt to wear! (At least none that fit) So now either late tonight or tomorrow, I have to go out and find me some shorts or preferably a skirt. Plenty of shirts! So tonight, if you see me posting some slow cooker recipes tonight, you will know at least one thing I am getting!

Sick all day... :(

Sorry I was not able to post earlier today, believe me I tried. I had a migraine since I woke up and was lucky enough to get the dishes done, then just layed about all day, unable to fall asleep. Finally it went away and it's 2:00 am. Time to go to bed. I just feel like the whole day was wasted. Tomorrow, I will be going with my sister ( my maid of honor) and my grandmother to go and do some shopping for the wedding. Wish me fun!

Stockpile List ----Home/ Health & Beauty Needs

Home/Beauty
Toilet Paper (12 pks)		4 Bundles
Paper Towels (6 pks)		3 Bundles
Dish Soap		12-15 Bottles
Laundry Detergent		20-24 bottles
Bleach		5 Bottles
Toilet Cleaner		6 Bottles (Powder or Liquid)
Window Cleaner		2 Bottles
Multi-Purpose Cleaner		4 Bottles
Fabric Softner		10 bottles
Fabric softner		10 Boxes
Couch Cleaner		2 Bottles
Air freshners		10
Candles		As many as I can get
Razors		20 Packages Female
Razors		20 Packages Male
Shaving Cream		40 Bottles
Shampoo		20 bottles
Conditioner		25 Bottles
Shampoo (male)		15 Bottles
Bodywash (Female, Bottle)		10 Bottles
Bodywash (Female, Bars)		10 Bars
Bodywash (male)		20 Bottles
Toothpaste		20 Boxes
Toothbrushes		As many as I can get
Deoderant (Female)		10
Deoderant (male)		15
Face Wash (Female)		5
Face Wash (Male)		10
Femine Products		10-15 Boxes
Lotion		4 Bottles
Ziploc Baggies		10 Boxes
Hair Color		4 Boxes
Hair gel		2 Bottles
Hair Spray		2 Bottles
Mouth Wash		4 Bottles
Body Spray (men)		2 Bottles
Makeup/nail polish		Whatever I can get
Nyquil (winter)		4 bottles
Pepto		4 Bottles
Tums/Rolaids		As many as I can get
Tylenal/Excederin		3 Packs
Bandaids		6 Packs
Vitamins		At least 2 pks Multi-Vit

Not all of this is needed during certain seasons of the year (such as the cold medicine and pepto) and I usually like to get way over the recommended 3 month stock on these items because if something were to happen, HHB items are a lot more expensive than food, and you can get assistance for food. It's like my "Just in Case" scenero that plays through my mind for these things. I am also sure I have forgotten things from both of these lists and will update as needed.

Stockpile List---Food needs

Pantry		Amount needed in Stockpile
Canned Green Beans		20-30 Cans
Instant Mashed Potatoes		10 Boxes
Sugar		3 Bags
Flour		2 Bags
Cereal		20 Boxes
Pop Tarts		10 Boxes
Fruit Snacks		10 Boxes
Granola Bars		10-12 Boxes
Chips		3 Bags
Rotel		8 Cans
Canned diced tomatoes		8 Cans
Cookie Mix		6 Pouches
Brownie Mix		10 Boxes
Cake mix		5-10 Boxes
Frosting		5 Canisters
Peanut Butter		4 Jars
Jelly		3 Jars
Apple Sauce		4 Jars
Pickles		2 Jars
Crackers		4 Boxes
Ketchup		10 Bottles
Mustard		10 Bottles
Franks Hot Sauce		6 Bottles
Lemonade Mix Canisters		10 Canisters
Tea Bags		2 Boxes
Dinner Kits (Variety)		10-12 Boxes/Pouches
Noodles (Spaghetti)		6 Boxes
Noodles		4 Boxes
Spaghetti Sauce		10 Cans
Soda		5- 2Ltrs. ~6-12pks
Juice (Variety)		12 Bottles
Nuts/Granola Clusters		2 Bags
Freezer
Bread		4 Loaves (3 Wheat, 1 White)
Frozen Pizza		10 Pizzas
Frozen Buritios		12
Brocoli		5 Bags
Green Beans		10 Bags
Bell Peppers		2 Bags
Chicken Breast (3 lb Bags)		4 Bags
Ground Beef (3 lb Logs)		6 Logs
Sausage Rolls		3
Hot Dogs		10 Pks
Hot Dog Buns		4 Pks
Hamburger Buns		4 Pks
Cheese Blocks		6 Blocks
Shredded Cheese Bags		12 Bags
Bacon		2 Packages
Ice Cream		2 Tubs/2 Boxes Pops/ Extras
Garlic Cheese Sticks		4 Boxes
Frozen Pancakes		4 Boxes
Frozen Waffles		4 Boxes
Frozen Juice		6 Cans
Pork Chops		2 Family Packages
Pork Tenderloin		1

Okay, so since DH now is employed again I am hopping back up on the coupon train. I loved couponing and how much money it saves! Plus, when DH was unemployed, our stockpile came in handy! So I have decided to put up my lists of what our little family needs to have in our stockpile for about 3 months or less. It varies sometimes. I will also be posting our Home/Beauty Needs list too. This is just to show an example of how to set a goal for your stockpile growth I know that it's gonna be another month and a half before I can seriously get down to business with this, but I can slowly rebuild it now to get it to where it is steady and I can wait for the good sales to come. After I start my couponing back up in full force I should have this stocked in about 2-3 months. Not bad, depending on how rusty I am and what kind of coupons start coming out in the paper/mail. And during this rebuilding stage before the serious couponing starts up, anything that I can get dirt cheap I will purchase with coupons (such as common items you can find at Aldis or Save-A-Lot and of course store brands. That way i won't have too far to go when I seriously start up couponing again. And remember: these amounts our based on my families needs, yours may be greatly different. Hope this helps!