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Wednesday, May 11, 2016

I have no idea how the Kohl's in my area is staying in business, and other topics


Because they're certainly not making anything from my shopping. Yes, another $10 off coupon. I took it to Kohl's last week, shopped around for a bit, and settled on a pair of new slippers for myself.


Regularly $24. On sale for $12. With coupon, just $2 and tax.


Some oatmeal that languished in the refrigerator all last week was put through the food processor with milk, egg and oil, and became . . .


a batch of waffles for the freezer. It seems no one wanted oatmeal, but are now very pleased to have waffles.


And, one last thing. Can you guess which upcoming holiday I'm thinking about? Give you a hint -- the star will only make sense for an American summer holiday.

28 comments:

  1. Memorial Day or 4th of July?

    What a good idea for leftover oatmeal. No one eats oatmeal except me and the hubby. I do use oatmeal for bread, muffins, and other goodies so I should try some in waffles since everyone likes those.

    Hubby had his 6 week checkup and the dr. was ready to to release him to regular work. But, he has some tender spots on the incision, a little tiny bit of swelling, and some muscle issues so he is now going to work on gaining strength and go back to work at the end of June. He really has no restrictions right now other than to be careful how to not pop that hip out of the socket. How cool is that?!

    Alice

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    Replies
    1. Hi Alice,
      Oh that's fantastic about your husband's progress! He'll be back to everything he's missed these last years in no time at all!

      I'm thinking of the 4th. I've been making a bunch of these paper stars from catalog pages to string over the patio, along with lights.

      Have a great day!

      Delete
  2. I am constantly amazed by your creativity in making use of every edible tidbit. As my dear little granddaughter would say, "you're a genie!" (meaning "genius" of course).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jayne,
      I'd really prefer to be a genie! How cool would that be. But thank you.

      Delete
  3. Oh Lili, I have those same slippers, ballerina style. I got mine for $2.99, new, at Goodwill though. I have the same thoughts about JCPenney. How do they stay in business with people like me basically getting free things??? Then I think of how 1) most people aren't like me :) 2) when I do actually need something I am more likely to get it there than someplace else.
    That was a great use of your oatmeal. I have had oatmeal waffles recently, made by my daughter, and they were delicious.
    I really like that star decoration!
    Have a great day!
    Mary

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    Replies
    1. Hi Mary,
      We'll have to have a pj and slippers day!
      Yes, I imagine there are folks who are buying these things at full price. But I couldn't make myself spend $24 for these slippers. I like to think the full price is purposefully overpriced to compensate for all of the deals and the items which will eventually go to clearance.
      Some weeks we eat up the oatmeal, and other weeks no one is interested. And I can't seem to predict which week we'll have before I make the oatmeal. So the waffles (and other bready things) work well for us to use up leftovers.
      The star was super easy to make. I'll post some how-to's, soon.

      Delete
  4. Great score on those slippers! I don't get the wonderful Kohl's coupons that you do, but, like Mary, I enjoy the Penney's $10 off $10 coupons. I think there are plenty "spendy" people out there who make up for us more frugal types. :)

    In reading your comment from yesterday--I have moved on to using box hair color--in fact, I'm letting it process right now as I write this! I'm not terribly gray, but in the past year I've gotten enough new gray that my camouflage techniques were becoming more hassle than they were worth. I use the semi-permanent type and it holds up for almost a month and doesn't make me look like Helmet Head Woman. It has never cost me more than $7/month (I know you stretch out your bottles to last for 2 colorings, but the semi-permanent formulas don't last after you activate them).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kris,
      The brand I was using of hair color was discontinued, and there's less of the new brand I'm using, so I have to use a full box, now (plus there are a few more grays now, rats). But when I did stretch one box to last for 2 colorings, I didn't mix all of the liquids at once. I measured out half of each and combined, then saved the other halves, separately, for the next month. You're right, you can't store it once mixed.

      Anyways, I use the semi-permanent coloring, too. I touch up the roots in between with a mascara-type wash out coloring. The touch-up lasts about 2 or 3 days, and looks most natural if I do it the night before, then by morning it's evenly distributed. I try to push my colorings to once every 5 weeks, mostly because I don't have time to wait for the whole process most days. I've found that the color looks best around the 2nd week, so I plan my colorings around when I want my hair to be looking it's best. I recently bought a couple of boxes on a buy 1 get 1 half off at he drugstore, but I also regularly order through Amazon and Drugstore.com, when I see either of them have a great deal going.

      Delete
    2. Maybe I use too much coloring on my hair--it's short, but I have a lot of it, so I use about 3/4 of a bottle. I started coloring in November so I'm still learning.

      Interesting about the mascara coloring wand. I tried one and hated it, but I'll have to try the night-before technique and see if I like it better. The product I prefer (but have only been able to find once at Walgreens) is by Colormetrics and uses a sponge tip marker to touch up those gray areas. It also comes with a little comb so you can pull your hair away from your face/scalp and apply color without getting it on your skin.

      I have found similar results--I use a shade lighter than my normal shade but right now, with it freshly applied, it's a bit too heavy looking for my preference, but in a week it will be great. It starts to fade by the end of the third week but I stretch it to 5 weeks (using the hair color marker/mascara pen if I am out in public and want to look like I'm tending to my hair).

      Delete
    3. Have you tried the Clairol Root Touch Up kit? I use that one and really like the results. You can mix half of the solutions to make it last for two touch ups if you don't need it all.
      Mary

      Delete
    4. The mascara wand looks very fake when first applied (almost red, when I need brown). But by morning it looks pretty decent. I think it also depends where your grays are coming in. My roots on top show more than anything right around my face, for some reason. So I touch up the top part, for the last week.

      have you checked Amazon or drugstore.com for Colormetrics? I don't know Walgreen's price, but I found that product listed with Amazon.

      Yes, that first week, my hair is quite dark. But after one week, it's just right for me, and stays that way for 2 weeks. then I'm doing the touch-ups for week 4 and 5. I have a friend who uses a Clairol permanent touch-up part way through the month. She uses a permanent hair dye. I'm just not wanting to go the heavier chemical route for my hair. But prefer something temporary.

      I'll check out the Colormetrics product when my mascara one runs out. Thanks for the suggestion.

      Delete
    5. Oh, that's the difference, semi-permanent versus permanent dye. For those using permanent dye, that Clairol touch up kit is a very good one.
      Mary

      Delete
  5. I, too, wonder how businesses survive giving so much away. Last year, up to a month ago, SYWR was dishing out so many points promotions, I seriously wondered if they would go under, so held back on doing every promotion (don't need more points, especially when I don't need anything, however lately the offers have scaled back). B&M retail is not doing very well these days, today's news is Macy's.

    Great use of leftover oatmeal!! I would not have guessed to make waffles with it. I have been on a gelatin kick, and think it is a great way to use odds and ends that are languishing in our cupboards. Recently, I found a lone Starbucks VIA vanilla instant coffee tube leftover from our trip, and since it sat so long without interest, I made a coffee gelatin out of it, added 1 c. milk, 1 T. honey, vanilla extract and chopped up a piece of Christmas cherry chocolate. Made 5 four oz cups, so yay for a light after dinner dessert.

    Have a nice day!!

    YHF

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi YHF,
      That gelatin dessert you made sounds not only delicious, but positively gourmet! Good job on using those odds and ends! I may make some coffee gelatin for myself this summer. Great idea, YHF!

      The waffles using leftover oatmeal actually turned out tastier than plain waffles. The oatmeal had almonds and raisins in it, which went through the food processor, too. And those gave such great flavor and texture to the waffles.

      Have a good day!

      Delete
    2. So many interesting things to comment about today! I've never even considered coffee in my gelatin, but I bet it would be a refreshing summer treat. YHF, did you use plain gelatin?

      Lili, your oatmeal waffles sound so good. I prefer oatmeal in waffles/bread/muffins, as I think it adds a gentle nutty taste and moist texture.

      And, of course, you will have to share your star-making technique with us lesser mortals. ;)

      Delete
    3. Hi Kris,
      yes, doesn't that coffee gelatin sound good? I'm going to try some this summer. I love coffee flavored ice cream, so this should be delicious.

      I love paper crafts, as they're cheap or even free (as with these, made from catalog pages). so if I goof, I'm only "out" my time. I'll post some how-to's soon. They're pretty easy, and like I said, FREE. Your kids might like making some, too. I know I would have loved making these at their age. I loved origami, and this is only a little different, in that there are cuts and glue parts.

      Delete
    4. Hi Kris, yes plain gelatin. I forgot to say I made the instant coffee using the recommended 8 oz hot water first, then added the milk, but in hindsight should have reduced the water or increased the coffee for a stronger coffee flavor. But we enjoyed it after dinner when I sometimes crave a cup of coffee, but usually talk myself out of having one. I ordered the gelatin from Amazon, hoping to buy the Knox brand which Lili blogged about. The price went up a lot since she mentioned it, so I ordered the Now Foods brand beef gelatin (cheaper) which I like very much, except I found out from reading other people's comments that the gelatin powder has to be stirred in hot water, then mixed in cold liquid, which is the reverse of the more familiar Knox brand instruction. Just thought I'd sneak a mention about this quirk in case anyone else was thinking about using the Now Foods brand of gelatin.

      YHF

      Delete
    5. I also like newspaper or scrap paper origami the best...for the same reason Lili mentioned...I'm out only my labor lol. We've been having some success using a seed starting mix instead of potting mix, (thanks Lili) and to make those seedling pots, I've used newspaper. Great way to transplant, just break up the paper at the sides and bottom, and not have to take the seedling out of the pot.

      YHF

      Delete
    6. YHF,
      do you form your pots out of newspaper just free hand, or do you use a tool? Years ago, I remember seeing a tool for forming the pots. Something that you wrapped the newspaper around, and then stuffed it into a form. Both pieces were made of wood, I think. How long does the newspaper pot last once wet and filled with soil? I'm almost out of the peat pots I bought at Dollar Tree a couple of years ago. Maybe next year I'll try making paper pots instead.

      Delete
    7. I have been folding the newspaper origami style to make the pots. I noticed there are several ways to fold this if you Google "origami newspaper pot". I'm trusting the newspaper ink is safe for the vegetable bed, so we plant the entire pot into the garden bed. So far the newspaper pots have held up well through continuous soakings. In fact we have to break the newspaper bottom and sides before planting so the roots can grow out. I should call our newspaper agency to find out what kind of ink is being used, or just gently rip the pot off before planting...I'm thinking just snip a spiral and tear.

      YHF

      Delete
    8. YHF, I will give these a try next year, for the veggies I do in pots that can be planted. thank you!

      Delete
    9. What's neat about folding paper pots is I can make the exact size pot I want by altering the size of the paper. I'm down to 7 1/2 x 17 inch, which makes a 2 inch square paper pot. This way, I can use the free tabloid size papers.

      YHF

      Delete
  6. Speaking of newpapers, I was just thinking the other day that we don't get newspapers any more and we usually don't have any when we need them for something around the house. We stopped getting a daily paper years ago and the local paper went out of business. We still get some junk adds, but they're not the same size or texture as newsprint. I guess I can always find someone that gets a newspaper and get some from them if I need some for a big project.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi live and learn,
      Would your library have old copies of the newspaper, after a certain amount of time on the rack? You're right, not as many people have a paper delivery service any more. It's too bad, because it was in the paper where I'd find interesting little articles. Now it seems you only hear/read the big stories, if you're getting your news from TV or online. For projects that just require something like newspaper as a protection for the floor, I also use the sacks that 50-lbs of flour come in. I save them in the pantry. Each bag is several plies, layered together, so quite sturdy and also good for laying down in the garden, as a mulch/weed barrier, under bark or wood chips.

      Delete
    2. It's too complicated to go into, but getting old newspapers from the library is not easy.

      Delete
  7. Love the slippers !
    Just learned my hubby will probably have his job until Oct. Yea ! We have been planning for it any day now and holding our breath. This gives us a bit more time to stock up and add to our emergency money. He has been employed by this company for twenty years so he will get a small pension but the extra time to save is a blessing.
    Thanks for all you do Lili.
    Dee D

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    Replies
    1. Hi Dee,
      If there's a silver lining in your situation it is just this, that you do have more time to prepare. That's about as close to good news as you may get with this. You're so smart in using this time to save more money and stock up on supplies. You are doing such a great job with this, Dee. Such a great job!

      Delete

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