Strawberry Season

I know that it is probably a little early in some areas of the country, but in Florida, we are right in the heart of strawberry season right now.  We are firm believers in eating things in their season as much as possible and from as local as possible.  Thankfully, we can get strawberries in abundance from all around central Florida from local sources!  And we stock up on them too!  Some of our favorite ways to use them are (in no particular order!): Strawberry shortcakes (we use home made biscuits, fresh strawberries and cool whip - layered in yummy goodness), Strawberry jam, Fresh strawberries with cereal or toast or on the side of any meal, Added into a blackberry pie, or Smoothies (made with kefir, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, flax, honey, whey protein powder and coconut cream).

Today, we made another of my favorites - Strawberry Spinach Salad - Fresh spinach, sliced strawberries, chopped pecans, cranberries, croutons (if desired) and your favorite dressing.  To me, it goes best with either a vinaigrette like Raspberry Pomegranate or Poppy Seed.  This is what our lunch looked like:

Those are all just to name a few of the many ways we enjoy strawberry season.  If you have any amazing ways you use them, I would love for you to share!

Swanson Vitamins

Several years ago, I learned about a website as a great resource to buy good vitamins at a great price and buy them from there as often as possible.  Today, I got an email that I could win free vitamins just by sharing their site with you!  It made me wonder, why haven't I shared it already?!  So, click here for more info about their site:


Have a blog? Want to win a $100? Check out the Swanson Health Blog.

 

 They often put their vitamins on buy one get one free, always have great prices and often have shipping deals on top of everything else.  {I get nothing for telling you this, by the way!  Just the joy of sharing what I love with you!}  Check it out for yourself and see if you like it.

Blooming Blossoms

Our Orange tree has blossomed!  Oh, my goodness, I am so excited!  This may not seem like a big deal, but we have raised this tree from basically a stick with no leaves - for about the past 6 years!  Last year, it got about 2 flowers but they never did anything.  This year, it is just covered with blossoms and the first 2 have opened:

Maybe we will get some oranges next year???  That would be so amazing!  I only wish you have a way to smell through your computer - mmmmmmmm!!!! 

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Well, while I'm telling you about things growing, I may as well update you on our garden projects for 2011.  We changed things up a little from last year and are doing more of less things.

We will have more Tomatoes:

More Green Peppers:

And more Lettuce:

We have started some beans, spinach and basil from seed and have nothing to show yet. We will soon be adding some zucchini (this is our last year - if we don't get it right this time, we are DONE with zucchini!), spearmint, chives and grape tomatoes.   We added a new raised bed this year, so now we have 3 total and we are doing some things in containers as well.  Our plan is to grow more of less and to do it well.  That's the plan anyway!  We'll see what happens as we go...

My Best Deal Yet

Many of you know that I have been into Extreme Couponing for almost 4 years now.  I learn more all the time about how to be the best steward possible with the resources that we have at our disposal.  The competitive side of me comes to life when I am faced with the challenge of limited finances to feed, clothe, house, etc,. a family of five plus three pets.  It is so fun and rewarding, though, to rack up the savings!  Recently, I had one of the best shopping trips that I have ever had in all of my couponing - major stockpiling going on here!  Here is the lowdown of my steals buys!  (My kids once asked me if I ever felt like I was stealing when I leave the grocery store - because I pay so little!  Nope - I do this fair and square!)

Bought:

32 boxes of Muellers pasta - various kinds
8 lbs of chicken leg quarters
2 1/2 gallons of Blue Bell Ice Cream
16 cans of Green Giant Veggies
26 cans Hunts and Muir Glen tomatoes and tomato sauce
2 1/2 gallons of Silk Almond Milk
1.5 Liter Aquafina Water Bottle
2 cans of Skintimate Shave Gel
2 cans of Pam Cooking Spray
1 Publix Bakery Whole Grain Baguette

Total before coupons:  $148.27

Total after coupons:     $10.11


Total Savings:           $138.16


Not bad for a days work - I LOVE saving money and I LOVE Publix!  Now, off to menu planning with my finds - I think we may have some sort of pasta, what do you think?!

A Random Observation

This is kind of silly and completely random and mostly useless info, but every day when the girls and I work out in the living room, our cat goes to the back door to be let out on the porch.  Every day, I watch to see what she does and she literally goes out and does a lap around the pool!  We think that she is working out with us, but it doesn't seem to be helping her - she is still fat!  However, at 16 years old, I don't think she is doing too bad.

Ever notice your pets doing things like this or are we unique??

February in Pictures

Since my last post was on February 1, I thought it would be appropriate to wrap up the month with a capsule of what we've been up to - it was a busy month, as usual!  Enjoy!

Mark's brother was deployed overseas this month and before he left, we had a family get together here at the house.

Mark's Dad showing Caleb some guitar tips

Mark and his brother, Lonnie

Holly and Grandpa playing a duet - I never even knew that he could play, but he did a great job!

Mark, Dad and Lonnie

Grandpa with 6 of his Grandchildren - MaKenna, Caleb, Holly, Trey, Jeramie and Courtney

Mark and I with Lonnie and his wife Kelly

Caleb and I went on a field trip to the Science Center with Joshua and his mom, my friend Sandra.  It was a homeschool lab day and we had a great time learning all about space together.

Learning about the sun and seasons, day and night

Discovering the distance of each planet from the sun

Lab reports!

Comparing the size of the planets using playdough

Discovering how telescopes and their lenses work

Learning about light and lasers

Later the same week, the girls and I went to see 'Pride and Prejudice' at the Shakespeare Theater in Orlando with Priscilla, Katie, Caitlyn and Megan (and Dawn!).  Great girl time!

Toward the end of the month, we had a scheduled and long anticipated field trip to The Holy Land Experience in Orlando.  We had never been, as long as we have lived here!  I did not get many pictures of things, though.  There were several shows, informational talks and many reminders that Jesus is God and that He shed His blood for us.  My favorite part was called The Jerusalem model - a miniature, to scale version of Jerusalem at the time of Christ.  A gentleman came out and brought it all to life as he showed various things, explained what they were, where they were mentioned in the Bible and what happened there.  It was so interesting to put it all into perspective.  As a bonus, they had a rock climbing wall for the kids.  Caleb had a great time trying and falling many times over, but he kept going again and again.

Hooked up and ready to go

Scaling the wall

Getting there - that bump was a huge hurdle that he never was able to get over.

Some of the girls waiting on the boys to climb the wall - Holly, MaKenna, Charlotte and Micaylah

Austin has joined Caleb trying to make it to the top.

Tyler and Austin

Garrett having a good time!

Cutie Patootie Abigail on the elephant

Camille and Holly, making memories!

My family with the Wiseners - such a treat and blessing to get to spend the day with them!

 Wrapping up the month was a combined Junior/Senior quiz trip in Tampa.  We took one Junior and one Senior team and had a great day.  What a great looking group of children who have already committed over 100 verses to their memory!

(Bottom to top):  Alexandria, Corbin, Erica, Melissa, Jilianne and Christina

All of those things took place, in addition to sickness, homeschooling, church involvement and activities, co-op, allergies, couponing to the max, etc!  We had an overall great February - how about you?

Homemade Magic Shell

Recently, I came across a recipe for making homemade Magic Shell ice cream topping.  I personally have never liked that since it always tastes fake to me, but the ingredients in this inspired me to try it out.  This is one that did not disappoint!  And, relatively speaking, it is good for you - at least better than store bought!  You should give it a try - all you need is:

1/2 c. coconut oil
1 bag of any type of chip you like - semi sweet, dark, mint, butterscotch, etc.

Melt the coconut oil in a saucepan on the stove.  Add the chips just until melted.  Allow to cool and then devour over ice cream!

This works perfectly because coconut oil solidifies when it gets cold.  Plus, you get the added benefit of the health goodness coconut oil offers.

Enjoy!