Frugal In Florida

Is anyone else in awe that the year 2011 is half over already?? June 1st ... signals a LOT of things: Start of Hurricane Season is number one. Not that anything happens TODAY but the awareness is up a few more notches. I've also decided that perhaps, maybe just maybe, I should try a reduced spending month again. I mean heck, I've got 3 freezers stuffed so full that I wasn't able to take advantage of almost free ice cream (may utilize the freezer at work today, still thinking about that). I've got a huge wall pantry stuffed with dry goods and then other cabinets with a bunch of stuffed in between. AND I've got a savings account that is NOT showing signs of life. Meaning it needs to be fed. So .... I wonder ... can I do with $200 for the month to feed the family (and the damn cats)? That would include laundry soap (need now), cat litter (need now), cat food, BEER (unless, of course, I go alcohol free too?) ... but yes, I think I can do it. Can I do it fo...

I got out of the office by 2pm. Was home by 3:30 after stopping at the store. Made some chicken skewers ... which were delicious. While eating dinner, I thought, odd, my throat is really sore. Hmmm, maybe I just scratched it on some food or something. But it hurt pretty bad. The next morning, it REALLY hurt. And I had sniffles! What? How can this possibly be?? I've had like 3 colds now in 3 months. Geesh. All while I'm trying to eat healthier and everything! My only conclusion is the GYM. Yeah. The Gym. You know, medicine balls, kettle balls, weights, etc.? Yeah, we use sanitizer but seriously, I wonder just what's in them bottles?? So Saturday night, we had a few couples over for dinner (chicken stuffed with spinach and herby rice with a pie) and the sickness went out the window with a few shots of Patron and a squeeze of lime. Sunday was the big bash for the Animals. After all, the majority of them were finished with school and will be heading off to colle...

Uhhh, school is officially out for Sonny Boy which means the next big step is college. Wow. But first, we have SUMMER! I love Summer. Kitty Kitty loves Summer too I think. It stays lighter much later at night. It gets lighter much earlier in the morning (yeah for me since I get up EARLY). The pool is finally warm again. Ok, I know some of you think I'm nuts because I'm whining it's only 83. Ummm, that's cold by South Florida standards and NO ONE who lives here will go near it! Boating weather is so much nicer (plus the ocean is warm as is Boca Lake ). Snowbirds and MOST tourist go back home. I have nothing against tourist, it's just nice to get our places back to ourselves :) We will still get the European and South American groups in but nothing like the winter! And we just spend so much more time outside. Eating out on the patio, grilling, floating in pool, wave runner, boat, beach, yard stuff ... the list goes on forever! I also think that we ...

My back is still killing me ... I know it's just the muscle that was *over* worked out but still ... uggg. So I'm doing some laundry (to scratch that off the list soon), dishes, AND I made Hubby a Cobb Salad, his very favorite: Pretty easy to do, chop some lettuce (romaine), chop 2 eggs, chop some turkey lunchmeat, and then just put in neat rows on top of lettuce. I used olives (since he loves olives) and a little cheddar cheese since I don't have any blue cheese. NO AVOCADO either. Normally I would have offered up my honey mustard dressing but haven't made any this week (it's on my list) so I offered the favorite stand by (which is delicious!) So again, I've proved how much we love salads in this house ... and I feel like a GOOD wife in making dinner finally! :)

Hello! I'm still here ... alive and well. Just been busy and all kinds of other things ... 1. Took the class at Gym on Monday. Kettle balls and medicine balls. Had to walk down stairs somewhat sideways and hold on to railing. Ummm, TODAY is the first day I can actually walk without my feet dragging or slapping. Lord have mercy. I need to definitely link up on the frugal exercise site and post it ... it was brutal. 2. Sonny Boy has his very last final today. Whew. I'm excited. I think he's a little depressed. 3. Kitty kitty managed to trap a bird in the pool skimmer. Could see the little thing hopping back and forth on the flapper thingy. Asked Hubby to please take lid off and stand back ... he did (used a crowbar to remove lid just in case birdy was borderline aggressive) and the bird hopped out and off chirping all the while. Kitty kitty was not at all happy for being trapped inside the house while this happened. 4. Had to let our new receptionist go at the offic...

Yummmm. I went to Whole Foods on Sunday for a few things from the produce section. Not because I wanted organic or anything like that but because I was pretty much across the street and it was just way more convenient. Ummm. Convenience and frugal do NOT go hand in hand. I always forget how expensive that place is. Whew. BUT. They had samples going on...lots and lots and LOTS of samples! Oh delicious! And they sucked me in! I got the salsa, the ginger teriyaki sauce (thankfully I have tons of boneless skinless chicken thighs to make my own chicken skewers!), Russian coleslaw, oh my! So here's what I plan on making soon ... the ingredient list is taken right off the TO DIE FOR package of mango salsa I bought for $6.99 (yes, that says SIX dollars and ninety-nine cents): Mangos red onion lemon juice jalapeno cilantro sea salt black pepper Now, keep in mind, every ingredient has "organic" in front of it, and it's "All Raw Vegan" ... which...

For those who live in Florida, you know that most "local" restaurants will offer this at some point on the menu and man, it is sooooo very good. I had purchased some fillets from Winn Dixie when they were buy one get free a while ago & I've got burger buns that need to be used so here we go! 4 grouper fillets blackening season (I use Badia brand, cheaper, bigger bottle, just as good as that "Big Man" stuff) Lemon (for the juice, or heck, you can use the bottled stuff, I won't tell) Burger buns Coleslaw (I just use the raw cabbage from a bag and toss with a little more thousand island dressing) Thousand Island dressing Pickle spears Lay out the filets in a glass dish. Run your fingers over to be sure there are no bones (I have fish bone phobia, sorry). Squeeze the juice of one lemon over the fish. Sprinkle evenly with the blackened seasoning. A little makes it a flavor, alot gives it a kick, use your discretion. Flip the fishies and ...