One Hundred Dollars a Month

Mornings with Mavis – Cupcake Tower, Bob’s Red Mill,Quilted Northern Toilet Paper, More Cowbell, USB Cables

May 20, 2013 2 Comments

Hello Monday.

We spent most of yesterday working in the yard. The HH and Monkey Boy pulled weeds and edged the driveway while I cleaned off the potting bench, pulled weeds and potted oodles and oodles of plants. The Girl elected to stay inside and do laundry. Yay! I don’t know about you, but I love it when my kids take care of the laundry.

As you can see from the picture above, Miss Lucy attempted to dig her way under the gate… but no such luck!

Have a great day everyone, only a few more days to go until the weekend.

~Mavis

If you are fan of Cooks Illustrated you’ll want to grab The America’s Test Kitchen Healthy Family Cookbook. It’s packed with 800 foolproof recipes. And when they say foolproof, they really mean it. Have you ever seen Christopher Kimball in action? Wowza. The guy knows what he’s talking about.

Check out these Amazon Deals -

Amazon has the Wilton 4-Tier Stacked Cupcake and Dessert Tower on sale for just $14.24 and the reviews are awesome!

Deals on Bob’s Red Mill Products

Bobs Red Mill Cinnamon Raisin Granola, 12-Ounce (Pack of 4) $10.30/$2.57 each shipped when you use the subscribe & save option at checkout.
Bob’s Red Mill Cereal 10 Grain, 25-Ounce (Pack of 4) $7.48/$1.87 each shipped when you use the subscribe and save option at checkout.
Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Cornbread Mix, 20-Ounce Units (Pack of 4) $10.17/$2.54 each shipped when you use the subscribe and save option at checkout.

Amazon has my favorite Traverse Bay Cranberries on sale for only $16.91 shipped when you use the subscribe and save option at checkout. This is the lowest price I have ever seen on these!

Amazon currently has Quilted Northern Ultra Plush, Double Rolls for low as $21.05/$.21 per single roll/$.42 per double roll SHIPPED when you use the subscribe and save option at check out along with the $1 off ecoupon you see below {you must be logged into your account to see the coupon}.

Zulily has Crazy Dog funny t-shirts on sale today for both kids and adults. A few years ago we bought the HH a “More Cowbell” shirt and he still wears it to this day. Fun stuff!

Already a Zulily Member? Go HERE to Get This Deal

6pm has wedges, flats and sandals on sale on sale all for $39.99 or less shipped.

Discount Mags is offering a 1 year subscription to Weight Watchers Magazine for only $4.49 a year when you use code 5162 at checkout. This deal will expire tonight 5/20/13 at midnight EST so be sure and grab your subscription before then.

Groupon – Flirty Aprons Deal - $15 for $30 Worth of Aprons, Bibs, and Kitchen Gloves

New to Groupon? Join Groupon Here!

Living Social has this 3 in 1 Dotzilla charger for only $7 + Shipping. You can find it under their “shop” section.

With this three-in-one charger, you can juice up to three different devices at once using your computer. Compatible with iPhone 5, 4/4S, 3G/3GS; iPad/iPad Mini, iPods, Android, HTC, Samsung, and more.

10 Things to Do Before You Leave on Vacation

Travel Deals -

Park City Peaks Hotel Park City - UT $65 per night
The Bedford Regency Hotel - Victoria, Canada $119 CAN
An Eight-Day Trip to Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville $1,799 Take Me With You!
3 Nights Waikiki Resort Hotel – Honolulu, HI Partial Ocean Views $438

We are still collecting Garden Gnomes for road trip to St. Jude’s in Memphis, Tennessee this summer. If you have not sent one in yet, please consider this set of 3 Garden Gnome Stakes. $10 will be donated for each garden gnome we receive* by August 1st, 2013. Up to $10,000.

New Hormel coupons available this morning:
$1.00 off any 1 LLOYD’S Barbeque product
$1.00 off any two HORMEL Bacon Toppings
$1.00 off HORMEL ALWAYS TENDER meat
$1.00 off 2 HORMEL NATURAL CHOICE products
$1.00 off 2 HORMEL Pepperoni packages
$3.00 off one HORMEL Party Tray product

Find More Printable Coupons

Filed Under: Amazon.com, Mornings with Mavis, Online Deals Tagged With: amazon, Bob's red mill, Cupcake Tower, More Cowbell, mornings with Mavis, one hundred dollars a month, Online Deals, Quilted Northern Toilet Paper, USB Cables

How to Make a Bean Teepee

May 19, 2013 7 Comments

When Monkey Boy and The Girl Who Thinks She’s a Bird were young, I would build them a bean teepee every summer. Back then, we lived on a .25 acre lot and because there was not an abundance of trees, I would purchase 6 foot bamboo poles at the Home Depot.

These days, we live in a more wooded area so we can make teepees a big as we want now.

If you have never built a bean teepee {or even thought about building one} for your kids, and you have the space, you should give it try. Not only will your kids think you are the coolest parent ever, but if you space the poles far enough, your children will be about to walk into the teepee, giving them a unique summer “clubhouse.”

Lets get started.

First, you’ll need to decide how wide you want the inside of your teepee to be. I spaced my poles far enough apart so there was about 4′ of open space in the center, which is plenty of room for a child and their friend to sit down and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Next, gather {6} 1o’ wooden poles and secure them together with twine, both at the top and the bottom. Make sure you push the poles deep into the soil so they don’t fall over if it gets a little windy or Fido walks by. Most pole beans grow about 6′ tall, so don’t feel like you have to haul 10′ poles home from the hardware store. 6′ poles will work just fine.

Once you have your teepee poles in place, rake the soil from the center of the circle to build up a nice mound of dirt around the teepee base.

Then, plant a generous amount of pole beans in the mound of dirt surrounding the teepee, and water as necessary.

You should have a fully covered teepee in about 60-70 days.

Last year we planted squash at the base of the teepees and it did really well. So if you have the space, go crazy!

If you are interested in learning about the history of teepees, check out Tipis, Tepees, Teepees: History and Design of the Cloth Tipi by Linda Holley. Amazon currently has the book on sale for $11.55.

Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Gardening, Kids Stuff Tagged With: Arts & Crafts, Garden Projects For Kids, Gardening, how to make a bean teepee, teepee

Mavis Butterfield | Backyard Garden Plot Pictures – Week 21 of 52

May 19, 2013 5 Comments

Backyard Garden Plot Pictures – Week 21 of 52

I plan on spending all day in the garden today. My online boyfriend Ryan from Botanical Interests is coming to visit me in less than 2 weeks when he’s up here for the Mother Earth News Fair and I want to have my garden in tip top shape.

On the agenda for today is whipping up a few batches of potting soil, watering the garden, pulling weeds, spreading a yard of bark in the front yard, cleaning off the front porch {it’s a disaster} and getting my pumpkins planted. I’d also like to tackle the raspberry patch and get the greenhouse in order too. I believe in miracles, don’t you?

I already told the kids we are not leaving the house today so we’ll see what gets done.

Here are a few pictures I snapped this morning while wandering around my backyard with a cup of tea in my bathrobe.

The wood pallet garden is looking good. I plan on harvesting more lettuce for a salad tonight.

Inspector Lucy followed me outside early this morning to check on the 16 raised garden boxes. She loves those French breakfast radishes and now every time we go near them she sits by the garden bed and waits for me to pull one up for her. What a nut!

The pea and potatoes are growing really well. I do need to get some twine and help the peas up the teepee poles though.

The greenhouse is still a work in progress. I plan on making another batch of my homemade potting soil and adding some black pots {for growing tomatoes} down the center of the greenhouse today.

I reported the progress of our potato towers last week. So far so good. If you look real hard you will also see potato plants coming out of the wood pallet compost bin. I’m not sure how a potatoes got in there {My guess is Lucy had something to do with it} but we now have potatoes growing in the compost bin. Ha! I wonder what they will taste like.

Here is a view from the back deck. I think I need less bark and more dirt.

We planted a mini pea patch right smack in the middle of the shaded backyard. And guess what? They love it there. Fava beans, Swiss chard and kale line the perimeter of the chicken run.

The raspberry patch had become a bit unruly again.

Here is a view of the raspberry patch from the kitchen window. Our 12 blueberry bushes are just beyond the raspberries on the left. For some reason the blueberries are kind of tricky to photograph, but I’ll try and get a decent photo so you can see how tall the 1 gallon bushes we planted 4 years ago are getting.

The herbs we have growing in container are growing really well too. I still have a few tiny rosemary starts I want to get planted. I need to check Costco and see if they have anymore of those huge brown pots in stock. Have you been lately? Are they still selling them?

Well that’s a bout it for this weeks garden tour.

I’m off to pull weeds!

Have a great day everyone.

~Mavis

This years garden is being sponsored by the awesome folks at Botanical Interests Seed Company. You can check out their website HERE, order their new 2013 Garden Seed Catalog HERE, or visit my boyfriend Ryan’s blog HERE.

Filed Under: 2013 Garden Plot Pictures, Gardening Tagged With: 2013 garden plot pictures, Gardening, mavis garden blog, one hundred dollars a month

One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure – Terra Cotta Flower Pots

May 19, 2013 11 Comments

Yesterday, The Girl Who Thinks She’s a Bird and I were driving down the road when we spotted a tiny garage sale sign. We were in a hurry so we hesitantly drove by.

Then, about 10 seconds later I said, “Turn around, let’s go real quick, you never know, there could be something good.”

After a quick 45 second scan of the sale we decided there wasn’t anything we wanted/needed and headed back to the car. On the way there I spotted these flower pots in some tall weeds alongside the persons house. I wasn’t sure if they were included in the sale, so I asked.

The lady sold them to me for 10 bucks!

I seriously have no idea what I’m going to do with them {there must be over 100 pots} but I thought 10 bucks was a great deal. And I’m kind of into gardening {Ha!} so I think they’ll come in handy at some point.

What do you think?

Trash, or treasure? Would you have bought all these terra cotta pots for $10, or walked passed them?

~Mavis

I Brake for Yard Sales: And Flea Markets, Thrift Shops, Auctions, and the Occasional Dumpster

Filed Under: Frugal Living Tagged With: flower pots, frugal living, Gardening, Trash to treasure

Raisin Bran Muffins

May 19, 2013 3 Comments

I don’t know about you, but I think I could pretty much live off of muffins. Couldn’t you?

I’ve been using this raisin bran muffin recipe for years and they have just the right amount of sweetness to them. Plus, these muffins freeze really well too, just in case you want to make a double batch.

Here’s the recipe. I hope you like it, we sure do.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups wheat bran {check the bulk foods section in your grocery store}
1 cup buttermilk {How to make buttermilk}
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup raisins

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl combine the wheat bran and buttermilk and let the mixtures stand for 10 minutes. Mix together the oil, egg, sugar and vanilla and slowly add it to bran mixture. Next add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and stir until just blended. Fold in the raisins.

Using a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the batter into a lined {or greased} muffin tins and bake for 18 minutes.

Serve with a wee bit of butter or honey. These muffins freeze really well too!

Yield 12 muffins

The Ultimate Muffin Book: More Than 600 Recipes for Sweet and Savory Muffins

Filed Under: breakfast, Recipe Tagged With: breakfast, muffins, Raisin Bran Muffins, rasisins, recipes

Mornings with Mavis – Free Kindle Books, Travel Deals, Soap.com Voucher, Car & Driver Magazine, Golf Organizer

May 19, 2013 Leave a Comment

I was planning on spending the whole day in the garden yesterday but shortly after breakfast The Girl decided she wanted to go spend the day watching her friends compete in a sporting even. So we packed up the car and off we went. So much for getting anything done. Ha!

We had a great time cheering everyone on but holy cow, there is a lot of work to get done.

Have a great day everyone, I’m off to get my garden clothes on.

~Mavis

Available Kindle Books I think are cool…

The Rationale Behind Homesteading: The Key To Self Sufficiency FREE
Backyard Chickens Crash Course – Raising Backyard Chickens For Fun & Food FREE
Mom’s Very Best Recipes Cookbook $1.99 Awesome Reviews!

The prices on Kindle Books can change quickly, so grab them while you can.

Amazon Local is offering a Custom Hardcover Leather Photo Book for only $12 shipped.

Be sure and Sign up HERE so you’ll know what the daily deal is each day.

Living Social is offering an $18 voucher to spend on products at Soap.com for only $9.

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This Samsonite Golf Trunk Organizer would make a great Father’s Day gift for the golfer in your life. Amazon has it on sale right now for $39.75 shipped. The HH has one and he uses it all the time.

Nothing is classier than showing up to a BBQ with a Redneck 6 Pack Beer or Soda Can Holster Belt. Amazon has this beauty on sale for just $6.89. Get ‘er done!

Looking for something a little fancier? You could always make a set of Redneck wine glasses.

Amazon has the Birdscapes Clear Window Feeder on sale for $8.45. What a great way to bring sweet little birdies to your windows.

Father’s Day Gift Idea -

Discount Mags is offering a 1 year subscription to Car and Driver Magazine for only $4.50 a year when you use code 5474 at checkout. This deal will expire tonight 5/19/13 at midnight EST so be sure and grab your subscription before then.

Groupon has a 4-Piece Jersey-Knit Sheet Sets on sale for $29.99 shipped

New to Groupon? Join Groupon Here!

Travel Deals -

Salish Lodge & Spa {2 nights} Snoqualmie, WA $286 + Dinning and Spa credits
Summit Lodge & Spa Whistler, BC Starting at $89 C a night
The Chateaux Deer Valley Park City, UT Starting at $109 a night
Pacific Beach Hotel Honolulu, HI Starting at $119 a night
Eight-Day London and Paris Vacation – Starting at $1,699 {I could be your tour guide!}

Fishing Gnome

We are still collecting Garden Gnomes for road trip to St. Jude’s in Memphis, Tennessee this summer. If you have not sent one in yet, please consider doing so. $10 will be donated for each garden gnome we receive* by August 1st, 2013. Up to $10,000.

Find More Printable Coupons

Filed Under: Amazon.com, Mornings with Mavis, Online Deals Tagged With: amazon, Car & Driver Magazine, free kindle books, Golf Organizer, mornings with Mavis, one hundred dollars a month, Online Deals, Soap.com Voucher, Travel Deals

How to Grow Sunflowers {Start to Finish}

May 18, 2013 3 Comments

My daughter The Girl Who Thinks She’s a Bird has been planting sunflowers ever since she could walk. I’m not sure who loves them more, her or the birds that come along at the end of each summer and peck at the seeds. Not only are they beautiful to look at, but they are great for summertime bouquets too.

Brief description: Sunflowers are annual flowers with beautiful bright flowers, usually yellow, red, or orange. They are great for attracting bees, birds, and butterflies to your garden.

Where to Plant Sunflowers: Plant in a sunny location in raised beds, garden beds, and/or containers {depending on the variety}.

Planting Seeds: Plant 1/2″-1″ deep about 1-2 weeks after last frost. When seedlings are 2″ tall, thin to 1 every 12″.

Growing Tips: Sunflowers love hot weather. They are extremely hardy.

How to Harvest: To harvest cut flowers as needed and place into water. To harvest sunflower seeds, allow the flower heads to dry out and lightly rub the head to reveal the seeds.

How to Roast Sunflower Seeds: You can roast the seeds by soaking them in a salt water solution overnight. Then drain them, pat dry, and roast them at 300 degrees for 30-40 minutes, turning them occasionally.

Are you ready to start your garden but you’re not sure when you should plant your seeds or set out your transplants? Head on over HERE and you’ll be taken to a handy dandy chart that is broken down into what vegetables should be planted {or transplanted} each month in your area.

Anyone can do this. Dirt + Seeds+ Water = Food!

~Mavis

Filed Under: Gardening, Growing Guides Tagged With: Gardening, gardening with mavis, growing guides, how to grow, sunflowers

Mavis Garden Blog – Garden Seeds I Still Need to Plant

May 18, 2013 5 Comments

Last night while The Girl Who Thinks She’s a Bird and I watched Freakanomics I sorted through my giant bin of garden seeds hoping to find something new plant this weekend.

Well, clearly I am behind.

I still have sunflowers to plant {doing those this morning!} beans, ornamental corn, another round of lettuce, more kale {I can’t believe I’m saying that} ornamental millet {the Handsome Husband LOVES this plant} and oh, and more basil. Is it even possible to plant to much basil?

There are also a oddball seeds I need to get started in flats, and I need to finish planting our pumpkin and winter squash seeds too. Typically I don’t start those until June 1st, but I’m feeling a little anxious this year. Must. Have. Pumpkins. Lots, and lot’s of pumpkins!

How are your seed packets looking these days? Do you have everything planted yet?

I’d say it looks like I’ll be spending all day in the garden. Again. Does it ever end?

Happy Saturday everyone. Get out there and do something you love.

~Mavis

Gardening Tips and Tricks – How to Organize Seed Packets

Filed Under: Gardening Tagged With: mavis garden blog

One Hundred Dollars a Month – Mavis’ Weekly Highlights

May 18, 2013 Leave a Comment

Books, Books, and More Books from Amazon.com

Garden Updates and Chickens Too!

Mornings with Mavis

Recipes

Tips and Tricks

Weekly Shopping Trips and Stories

Videos

Friday Night at the Movies – Freakanomics

Peace Out Girl Scouts, have a great weekend!

♥ Mavis

Filed Under: Weekly Highlights Tagged With: $100 a month, Mavis, rnone hundred dollars a month, Weekly Highlights

Ebates 14% Cash Back + FREE $10 Gift Card to Macy’s, Walmart, Target or Kohl’s

May 18, 2013 Leave a Comment

I just logged into my Ebates account to purchase something online and noticed Ebates is offering 14% cash back today to oodles of stores.

Ebates offers cash back from any of 1,500 stores any time you start your shopping trip at Ebates.com. There are no points to redeem, no forms to mail in, and no fees. Stores pay Ebates a sales commission for sending shoppers their way, and Ebates uses the commission to pay you cash back.

If you are new to Ebates, you will also score a FREE $10 gift card to Target, Macy’s, Walmart, Kohls, or Ebates. How cool is that? Simply sign up HERE and you will receive the gift card of your choice in the mail after your first $25 purchase. We use Ebates ALL THE TIME in our house, even our kids use it.