Shelf Reliance – Mama’s Advice & Baby Steps

Today’s blog is a guest post from Becky and Rachel, two amazing sisters and Shelf Reliance team members. Becky and Rachel work as Shelf Reliance Independent Consultants, teaching families in their communities how to think differently about food storage and plan for their potential needs. Read along as these two share some ideas and baby steps with all of you.

homemaker Making It Work: Mamas Advice & Baby Steps

We all know what our mamas said: Get your food storage ready — you just never know!” Back in the day, a couple of years ago really, you basically had 2 options: (1) buying cans from the grocery store, packed in liquid, that only last 1 to 2 years, or (2) buying basics-only from a local dry pack or wet pack cannery (for those who even had that option in their states). Being limited to those two options is a thing of the past!

Have you ever wondered how the heck you are going to cook all those dry red beans and feed it to your sour-faced children with a smiling face? Do you have a wheat grinder for all that hard red winter wheat you keep buying? Do you even know how to make bread? Are you storing water? Do you have a camp stove? It’s time to take a hard look at what you really are willing to feed your family when the time comes. Sure, you can make due with chicken noodle soup and crackers. But how long will that last before your kids start throwing it at you?

DSC00699 Making It Work: Mamas Advice & Baby Steps

Many people tell me, “Well, we’ll eat it when we have to.” I’ve thought about that a lot. Consider this: all the cast members of the reality television show Survivor go without food, other than rice, for about 30 days. Their bodies are in a truly desperate situation. Then, they are given some kind of yucky food eating challenge. Though they’re in a situation where they “have to” eat up for further rewards or a chance at $1 million, and though their bodies are in crisis mode where any food would be better than no food at all, many of the contestants fail without even trying. What did they put on the line? Their health, hunger and $1 million dollars. Do we even have half the constitution that those people have? I know I don’t. It’s better to store food you’ll be happy to eat, as opposed to the food you only hope you’ll be able to stomach one day.

I think when the time comes that you have to use your food storage, whether because of a job loss or natural disaster, you would much rather have food you’ve enjoyed all along, things like chicken salad, blueberry pancakes, or brownies. You can do this! Food storage can be easy. There are lots of recipes in the THRIVE Kitchen, a section of ShelfReliance.com, along with YouTube cooking demonstrations from Shelf Reliance cooks and a recipe book coming out soon. Just take baby steps.

baby+steps Making It Work: Mamas Advice & Baby Steps

Shelf Reliance offers just-add-water brownie mix. The powder lasts 20 years sealed in the can. No need to have eggs or oil on hand.

We also sell freeze dried meats. These are dices of REAL, fully-cooked meat that has been freeze dried. Just add water to reconstitute, and it becomes the normal, everyday meat you’ve always loved. These meats last 25 years in the sealed can, 1-2 years when opened.

What about something like blueberry pancakes? We have 6 Grain Pancake Mix and Freeze Dried Blueberries. All you need is the water. And if you don’t have the stored water you’ll need, consider buying some Steri Pens, filters, or water purification tablets so you can use the water you find.

Food storage can be manageable and not a source of frustration. Let us teach you how.

***
Thanks to Rachel and Becky for joining us today! For more information and insight from these two great ladies, visit www.shelfreliancesisters.com. Check them out and learn how you can attend, host, or teach Shelf Reliance Home Parties in your area (along with all the crazy deals you can get on food storage and shelving). Have a happy Mother’s Day!

How to refill floor mopping system bottles – and a recipe

If you use a Swiffer or Ready Mop or Store Brand mopping system you know how expensive the bottles of solution can be. I have a Swiffer and I buy solution only when I have coupons and can find good deals. I frequently run out of the official stuff before a good deal comes along so I decided to find a way to refill the bottles.

Removing the cap is not just as simple as unscrewing it, because the manufacturers don’t want to make it that easy, but it is possible. There are two ways that I have found to get the cap off. The best way is to run the top of the bottle under hot water then pop the lid off, you may need something to pry it off for the first time. You can also use pliers to unscrew it you just have to squeeze hard.
Refill it with cleaning solution, insert back into mop and start cleaning.
Oh yeah…. I also just use a kitchen rag to mop with rather than buying the pads all the time.

Make your own multipurpose cleaner (Great for floors).

1 pint soap flakes
6 cups hot water
4-5 drops of your favorite essential oil (I like orange, lemon, thyme or cinnamon the best)

Slowly dissolve soap flakes into water, stirring well. Once soap is completely dissolved, use a spoon to remove any suds that formed on the top. Add pine oil slowly, stirring continuously as its added. Stir until completely blended.
To use, dilute with water. For areas with more bacteria (ie. toilets), use at full strength.
To store, ensure jar or container is sealed tightly.

Fox Deals Round-up 5/6/2010!

1. Free Cami from Lane Bryant with printable coupon!

More info HERE

2. Free Disney song downloads! One per day!

More info HERE

3. 100 new MP3 albums for May! Just $5 Each at Amazon.com!

More info HERE

4. Bare Escentuals makeup deals at Overstock.com!

More info HERE

5. Nintendo Wii plus Bonus Game only $179 at Walmart.com!

More info HERE

6. Get both Alvin & the Chipmunks and Alvin & the Chipmunks: Squeakuel for $11.98 at Amazon.com!

More info HERE

7. SAVE 20% plus FREE 2-day shipping at Crocs.com!

More info HERE

8. All Entertainment books $15 with free shipping!!

More info HERE

9. RSL vs Philadelphia, May 8: Moms get in FREE, plus 50% off select tickets!!

More info HERE

10. Discovery Gateway Museum 6 month Membership Deal: $50 for a family of four!

More info HERE

Free 8X10 collage print from Walgreens!

FREE 8X10 collage print with code: GOODTHOUGHTS

Free in-store pickup. Valid through Saturday, May 8th.

Walgreens.com LINK

Free Disney song downloads! One per day for the next 50 days!

Disney is offering a free music download every day for the next 50 days! Today’s free download is “I Wanna Know You” from Hannah Montana 3. Download it FREE at THIS LINK.

CVS Photo Center – 50 free prints when you register!



Join the CVS photo family and get great perks!

Included with your FREE membership:

  • 50 FREE prints!
  • Free Photo Storage
  • Share photos with friends and family
  • Free shipping to your local CVS pharmacy

LINK TO JOIN CVS PHOTO

Free Cami from Lane Bryant through 5/10!

Free Cami from Lane Bryant

  • Complete the form at THIS LINK.
  • Print your coupon.
  • Bring your coupon to your nearest Lane Bryant store.
  • Pick up your FREE Cami!

Valid through 5/10.

Free Glade Relaxing Moments Gift Basket (Room Spray, PlugIns & Candle)

Click here and be one of the first 6,000 people to respond to get a Free Glade® Relaxing Moments™ Gift Basket!  The gift basket contains:
• One Glade® Relaxing Moments™ Room Spray
• One Glade® PlugIns® Scented Oil Warmer + Glade® Relaxing Moments™ Refill
• One Glade® Relaxing Moments™ Candle
*If you have received a gift basket from Right@Home™ in the last 180 days, you are not eligible for this month’s offer.

Free Disney song downloads! One per day for the next 50 days!

Disney is offering a free music download every day for the next 50 days! Today’s free download is The Nightmare Before Christmas “What’s This”. Download it FREE at THIS LINK.

New Albums for May! 100 MP3 Albums – Just $5 Each!

May’s albums have been added and there are some great ones! Amazon has 100 MP3 Albums on sale for just $5 each! Everything from classics like Pat Benatar to Poison to Justin Bieber to the Up soundtrack. There is a new selection of 500 albums each month, check out  May’s sale!

100 $5 MP3 Albums LINK

1 Movie Ticket and 40 Tampons: 4.97


Admittedly, the cashier may have been a little confused to see a clearly-pregnant woman buying 200 tampons, but if he’d known about this deal, he might have stopped wondering and gone to buy some tampons for himself.

Right now at Wal-Mart, specially marked packages of Tampax Pearl tampons and Always pantiliners contain a coupon code for a free movie ticket, up to 12.00. These boxes run about 6.97, and there was a 2.00 coupon for the Tampax Pearls and a 1.00 coupon for the Always pantiliners in the 5/2 Procter and Gamble insert, making it 4.97-5.97 for the tampons/pantiliners and the ticket.

Good deal.

  1. Check to see what theaters are participating in your area.
  2. Clip your coupons and head to the store for packages that look like the one pictured above.
  3. Enter your movie codes here.
  4. Print your tickets.
  5. REMEMBER! The codes within the package are good until October 31, 2010, but the movie cash you get with them must be used within 30 days of being received.
  6. Follow the PYP forum discussion here.

Enjoy the show!

Recipe: Healthified Chocolate Chip Cookies

I found this recipe in a magazine. Their photo looks much better than mine. I think I cooked mine a little too long. But they were delicious. I think I might cut back a little on the butter next time. It says this recipe has 21% fewer calories, 42% less saturated fat, & 14% less fat than original chocolate chip cookies.


3/4 c. granualted sugar
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. canola oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
2 c. whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 c. semisweet miniature chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, beat sugars, butter, oil, vanilla, and egg with electric mixer on low speed unilt belnded. Beat in flour, baking soda, and salt until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips.

On ungreased cookie sheet, drop by rounded tablespoobnfuls about 2 inches apart.

Bake 7-9 minutes or until very light golden grown (centers will be soft). Cool 1 minute before removing from cookie sheet to cooling rack.

One cookie: 110 calories, 6 g fat (2g saturated, 0g trans), 10mg cholesterol, 65mg sodium, 13g carbs, 1g protein.

CVS shopping lists – current deals and preview of next weeks deals!

The following links can be used to access the GrocerySmarts CVS lists in the designated areas. This list is made using the Arizona ad. Some sale prices may differ slightly from area to area, but all coupon information is specific for your area.

CHECK THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR MORE PRINTABLE COUPONS

Arizona
*Arizona CVS PREVIEW List*
Arizona CVS CURRENT List

California – North
*California North CVS PREVIEW List*
California North CVS CURRENT List

California – South
*Californa South CVS PREVIEW List*
California South CVS CURRENT List

Idaho
*Idaho CVS PREVIEW List* (check valid dates)
Idaho CVS CURRENT List (check valid dates)

Nevada
*Nevada CVS PREVIEW List*
Nevada CVS CURRENT List

**************************************************

ADDITIONAL PRINTABLE COUPONS TO USE:

-Depends $2/1 HERE (FINAL PRICE: $2.00 OVERAGE AFTER PROMO)
-Aquafresh Iso-Active Toothpaste $1/1 HERE (FINAL PRICE: $1.00 AFTER PROMO)
-Aquafresh Advanced Whitening Toothpaste or Extreme Clean $1/1 HERE (FINAL PRICE: .25 AFTER PROMO)
-Sensodyne Iso-Active Toothpaste $1/1 HERE (FINAL PRICE: $1.50 AFTER PROMO)
-Sensodyne Toothpaste .75/1 HERE (FINAL PRICE: $1.75 AFTER PROMO)
-Colgate Total Toothpaste .75/1 HERE (FINAL PRICE: .24 AFTER PROMO)

Buy one Nabisco Cookie and Gallon of Milk and Get 2nd Nabisco Cookie Free

It could be that being 7 months pregnant is affecting my judgment (after all, I want to eat everything in sight, and Oreos are my idea of heaven these days), but this coupon seems rockin’ to me. Valid for the first 210,000 prints.

  1. Log-in to Facebook.
  2. If you’re not already, become a fan of Nabisco Cookies.
  3. Click on the “coupon” tab.
  4. Make sure your printer is plugged in and print a coupon for one free package of Nabisco cookies when you buy a second package and a gallon of milk.
  5. One per household.
  6. While you’re there, make sure you’re a fan of PinchingYourPennies, where deals flourish!

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