CVS Coupon Trip, 4/28/13

CVS 4/28/13

I paid $1.02 for the above purchase!  Woo Hoo!

I had $5ECB (Beauty Bucks) expiring on the 28th.  There was nothing in the ad that I really needed, as far as other ECB offers, so, I purchased Jif for $2.50 and two Goldfish for $1.67 each.  The Hershey's was $.99, and the Coupon Center gave me a $.99 off any Hershey's or Mars candy.  I cannot turn down FREE chocolate.

I used a P&G rebate card to pay for the $1.02, so it was all FREE.  I had $15 starting out on the card, and have used it 4 times at CVS.  I still have $8 on it!  I want to see how far I can make it go.  

On a sad CVS note, the Green Bag Tag program is over.  BUT, $2 in ECB printed out today when I handed the guy my card.  I did not realize it was over, but he said $2 had been printing all day. 

Bean and Cheese Enchiladas

We love these (even the three year old)!

Here is what you need:

 

 

1 can tomato sauce

2 cans pinto beans (or prepared dry beans)

8 flour taco tortillas

1 packet taco seasoning (or make your own!)

1 cup Monterey Jack

1 cup cheddar (not pictured)

1 can enchilada sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

I make my own enchilada sauce (prior to this).  I like this kind: Homemade Enchilada Sauce.  I make this and divide it into three parts, and I freeze them.  One portion is enough for this recipe.  I found that the canned enchilada sauce is WAY too salty.  Also, if you make the taco seasoning too, you can cut down on salt.

Mix the enchilada sauce and tomato sauce together.  Place a small amount in the bottom of a 9x13 pan to keep the enchiladas from sticking. 

Rinse and mash the beans.  Heat them in a sauce pan with the taco seasoning and half of the enchilada/tomato sauce mixture.  Shred the cheese, and mix the two cheeses together.  

Place a small amount of cheese and beans in the tortilla, and place in the pan.  Top the enchiladas with the sauce and the rest of the cheese.  Bake 20-30 minutes. 

My First Estate Sale

Saturday morning I noticed a man putting up neon yellow estate sale signs in my neighborhood, and I decided I would give it a try later in the afternoon.  I am 99 percent sure I have never been to an estate sale, at least I have never been to something like this!  This was a whole new experience. 

I arrived about five minutes before it was to open, at 9:00, and I found the yard full of people.  I took my number, 18, and got in line with several people who were angry they had to stand in the grass.  At about 9:02 they all started yelling at the front door that it was time to open.  Nice. Then they all started to talk about the lady who had died that lived in that house.  Nice again. 

People went nuts, like Wal-Mart on Black Friday nuts, when the doors opened, and I just stood back.  Maybe they knew something I did not, but I was not that eager.  Inside, there was a lot of cute antique furniture.  In the kitchen several people were unloading all of the contents of the kitchen cabinets into their baskets saying "I guess this is what it comes to, your life as a yard sale.  It is a shame."  The sentiment was not slowing them down from loading up with $1 vintage Pyrex . . .

I finally escaped the vaguely creepy house and found the freestanding garage in the back yard.  That is where the interesting stuff was, including a HUGE antique, hand crank ice-cream machine that someone had already picked up for $30.  I picked up the fan for $5!

I wish my picture of how dirty it was turned out.  It was GROSS!  Looking online, I am guessing it is from the 1950's.  It is Westinghouse "Made in the USA."

I did plug it in, and lets just say that was an electrifying experience.  It is just for looks!  Maybe one day I will open it up and fix the wiring.  I am guessing there are exposed wires in the motor. 

Child's Hutch Before

 

This is my new project in all of her hideously dirty glory.   I saw her online at the Decatur, Alabama Habitat for Humanity Re-Store (https://www.facebook.com/DecaturReStore?fref=ts).  My wonderful parents picked her up for me.  They were told that a man brought in the hutch and said it was his sister (or mothers, not sure) and was at least 60 years old.  It was handmade for the woman as a child. It is child sized, and less than three feet tall.  It is made primarily from plywood. 

There is a chance it was in a barn for 50 years, considering all of the funk on it. There was a dirt dauber nest and at least three spider egg sacks (no spiders, thank God).

 Above is just one swipe down the side . . .

I used warm water mixed with a small amount of Murphy's Oil Soap to clean it up.  It took four changes of water, and an assistant to get it finished.

(Don't worry, she was supervized with this bucket of water the whole time.)
After a cleaning:

I plan to replace the hinges and paint the piece.  I am undecided if I will keep it or sell it to a good home!  If anyone is interested in this piece, please e-mail me.  I can customize the color and design for you. 

Wall Bust Before and After

I am trying to work on new before/after projects.  I found this gem at America's Thrift Store in Fultondale, Alabama.

 

Yeah, that is velvet, and terrible.   I ripped the velvet off (it was marked on the back with 1976 and "given to my grand daughter 2011," looks like grand daughter dumped this beauty.)

I washed it with dawn in the sink (after ripping the lovely smelling velvet off), and let it dry.  I coated it with one coat of white Valspar primer spray paint.  When it was dry, I applied two coats of glossy white spray paint.  AND . . . 

 

100% better, and less than $12.00.