20,000 sheets of copy paper for 2 Pennies...Again!!:))

I just LOVE Office Max! 

They keep giving me free stuff!!!

Here's the scoop:

October, I buy  2 cases of copy paper  (20,000 sheets) for $68  

• I pay $68 out of pocket and the magic begins...  
• I get ALL my money back  (minus 2 pennies)  in MaxPerks rewards (it's like a store gift card)!!

November, more FREE rewards deals offered.

• I order $50 worth of office supplies (i.e. batteries, retractable sharpies, labels).  
• I use my Oct rewards, pay ZERO out of pocket plus get $50 back in rewards!  

Are you beginning to get the picture?

This week, Office max again is offering FREE and $0.01 items including cases of paper, heavy duty binders, quality pens

• You guessed it, I have $64 in rewards
• I won't pay a penny out of pocket PLUS I'll receive even more rewards!

Did I mention I'm saving this from 

the comfort of my own home?

SO EASY A CHILD COULD DO IT

Maxperks Explained:  

• You need to  sign up  for rewards card (online or in-store).  You are issued a store card with an ID no. which you must use when you make purchases. 
• When you purchase items (online or store) you give your maxperks number so purchase rewards will be issued to you
• Create an  online account  in which to view your rewards and to print out your redemption cards.
• At the end of each month, OfficeMax electronically issues any rewards you may have earned into your secure, online account. This reward will be issued by the end of the following month (usually around the 20th).  In other words, rewards for January purchases will be issued by the end of February.

Dinner-In-A-Can Transformations

You DO NOT have to make everything from scratch for it to be "homemade".  With a number of family activities on any given day, it can be difficult to spend hours in the kitchen to prepare meals from scratch.  However, it's surprisingly easy to give your family a home cooked meal....warming their hearts as well as their bellies. 

The trick?  Use the canned/boxed food as a base to build on rather than the main theme.

Here are some simple ideas:





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• Mac n cheese:  toss the dried cheese mix (I actually store it in spice jars to use as a topping for steamed veggies) and substitute freshly shredded cheese blend of choice.  Add 1/3 to 1/2 pkg of cream cheese for a rich, creamy homemade meal.  Optional: add vegetables or top with bacon bits.

 



Broccoli Cheese Soup


• Soups:  My husband was not feeling well last night and decided he'd like some soup.  No problem!  I used a can of cream of broccoli cheese soup as my base, tossed in some frozen broccoli, frozen corn,  milk, and fresh shredded cheese.  I also added some spices (garlic is a favorite).   Top with more shredded cheese.  He never even suspected canned soup and was very appreciative of having a nice meal:)  There are so many delicious recipes you can make with soup mixes such as pork chops & gravy, chicken cordon bleu or savory roasted sweet potatoes but I'll stick to the soup theme here. Other good soup bases:





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• Cream of Potato: can add same ingredients from above or any other veg of choice; or add sausage or ham

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• Cream of Mushroom: Add more fresh mushrooms and Parmesan cheese. Top with croutons



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• Cream of Tomato: add fresh veggies and egg noodles for minestrone

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• Clam Chowder: although from scratch is super easy and divine, you could add canned baby clams, bacon and serve in a bread bowl

• Chili:  I've acquired bulk cases of canned chili from couponing but we don't ever have plain old chili from a can.  Several options:




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• Chili Surprise: My pal, Rachel, gave me the idea to add canned black beans, chili beans, or any other favorite along with cubed beef chunks (canned or fresh).  Season with favorite spices such as cumin or garlic.  Top your bowl with a dollop of sour cream and shredded cheese.

 

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• Chili Con Carne: A simple favorite is to  add chopped link sausage to the chili.  Or use any leftover meats.

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• Chili-mac: add some cooked mac n cheese to the chili (I know a teenager who wins a chili cook off every year with this simple recipe...beating out many gourmet blends:)





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• Frito Pie:  add tomato sauce and pour over Frito's

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• Cornbread Chili: spread chili in a casserole dish, top with a cornbread batter mix and bake. Option: add canned green chilies to cornbread batter.

Useful Tips:

Recipes are never set in stone:  If you're like me, you come across a recipe you'd LOVE to try except the recipe is too tedious or time consuming.  However, there is usually alternative ingredients and/or cooking methods that will make it doable for you and delicious just the same.  Take my meat and potato pie recipe---I altered an 8 hour recipe that called for ingredients I've never heard of into an easy 1 hour meal using tasty ingredients on hand.

Spices are our Friends:  I have a handful of spices that go on most all my dishes (i.e. garlic).  Even the blandest canned food can be transformed with a sprinkle or two.

Mix and Match for your perfect blend:  I mentioned this trick in an earlier post for creating one of a kind gifts but it's just as useful to cooking too.  Make a recipe yours by adding your family favorite spices or ingredients.  It can become your own signature dish (but don't forget to write it down...so you will remember for the next time)

Keep A Recipe Binder:  It's a good idea to put your tried and true family favorites together in a recipe binder or box. You may be thinking it's not really necessary since you know those recipes by heart... but what if you're running late and you want your husband or kids to start dinner?  It's no problem if they know where to find the recipe.  Plus, you will want to note how you alter recipes for future reference (it's quite the headache to forget and then have to figure it out all over again).




From Assembly Line to One Of A Kind

Your personal touch can make anything a one of a kind.  



My homemade flower arrangement


A short Story:
My mom was in the hospital recently (if you're wondering where I've been lately).  She had emergency surgery after a sudden onset of symptoms.  I'm happy to report all is well.  The point I'm getting at is that my dad wanted to send her some flowers.  But instead of spending big bucks, I purchased a bundle of flowers wrapped in plastic ($10-15) and arranged them myself in a spare vase.

For an eye popping kick, I added delicate wood limbs from a spindly little tree hiding in the corner of my parent's yard.

Yep, this is the tree...so pitiful it almost blends into the fence.  But what a difference when added to a flower arrangement don't ya think?


I also purchased some of those Christmas scented pine cones and hid several in the arrangement.  Let's just say my mom's hospital room smelled quite delicious:)

One of a Kind Gift Idea:

With the Christmas season upon us, most stores carry an array of gift baskets ranging from candy & beverages to bath soaps & lotions. 

It is super easy make them beautiful and unique.  Simply add extra items (homemade, home cooked or store bought) and then re-wrap in cellophane with a beautiful ribbon, flowers, greenery, etc.  Your imagination is your only limit. 

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Some Ideas: using gifts boxes available at the local retailer. 

• Take them out of those hideous boxes.  People toss  beautiful baskets all the time (tag sale/garage sale). 
• Hot Sauce: arrange in a Condiment Caddy or basket; provide a roast recipe, or beter yet, bake the roast!
• Hot Chocolate: add personalized photo mugs (look for free online offers); replace cocoa with your own gourmet blend.
• Smores: add more chocolate, include smore party invitation, swap out mugs from hot chocolate box.
• Snowman/Penguin: attach winter gloves or woolly hat 

Useful Tips:

• you don't have to use everything in a store-bought gift basket.  Add and take away until you get a perfect combination and a one of a kind piece.
• If you have a small item that needs to be spruced up, add it to a gift basket. Instead of giving makeup in a plain box, I bought a gift basket that looked like a Christmas sleigh, filled it with makeup and candy and wrapped it in cellophane with a cute bow.
• take advantage of black friday & after Christmas sales to stock up on clearance items to re-package for birthday, hostess, or housewarming gifts.

Be on the lookout for a future post where I will use this same strategy to offer easy ideas on how to transform a pre-packaged dinner into a "practically homemade" meal that is sure to please.

Seminary Attendance Sheet (CSTAR Friendly)

I searched high and low for a seminary attendance roll sheet that would work well for us LDS seminary teachers.  I found some cute ones but needed something that would make it less of a chore come time to enter attendance into CSTAR.  Thus, here is my creation:

Download: Seminary Attendance Sheet

Why all the different colors?  It's actually not for looks at all...some of my students had problems keeping to their own attendance line which made for a huge mess (shading every other line 1 color did not help).  My answer is to assign students their own uniquely colored line.

You will find places to quickly add up total scripture reads, absents(A) and tardies (T).

If you list students in alphabetical order, it will be a breeze to transfer into CSTAR.

Finally, it's an Excel spreadsheet so you can change it to meet your needs.