Outside freezer- Is it worth the money?

We moved into this house last summer, and brought our old refrigerator with us to keep in the garage. I have enjoyed being able to buy foods in bulk, and double meals when I cook and store them in the freezer for nights when I am too tired to cook ( which came in especially handy when Avalyn arrived).

Lately though I have been wondering if it is costing more in electricity than it is saving us? Our last electric bill was $274, and I think part of that cost is from trying to keep the fridge and freezer cold when it is 100 degrees in the garage.

It is about halfway empty at this point - should we try to eat everything out of it and then shut it off until the weather cools down? Or is the cost of running it nominal? I'd love to hear from anyone who keeps an outdoor freezer.

Italian Grilled Cheese

Wow. I came up with this on a whim the other day and loved it.

2 thick slices sourdough bread
sliced fresh mozzerella cheese
olive oil
salt and pepper
1 clove garlic, cut in half

Brush bread with olive oil and rub with garlic. cook in skillet until bread is toasty and cheese is melty. Rub with garlic again and serve with a sprig of fresh basil.

Works for Me: Paying cash for groceries

Last week I tried something new - I only took cash to the grocery store for my weekly trip. It was a challenge to stay under budget, ad I was only able to buy the things I needed for our meals. But it worked, and how wonderful it felt afterwards to know that I didn't waste money on "extras" that are bad for our wallet and our diet.

I am planning to make this a regular thing in an effort to trim our grocery bill down. I know this isnt a new concept, but it is a new thing for me, and it really worked for me!

Go here for more tips.

Potty Training - What works for you?

I'm having a reverse wfmw today - I need some potty training advice.

Princess 1 is finally potty trained, yay! But we still have one problem. She is currently using the little kid potty, meaning we have to empty it out all day long - yuck. We have tried two potty seats for the big potty and both are too hard for her to climb onto by herself, even with a stepstool.

How did everyone else enable their little ones to get onto the big potty?

Go here for more tips.

Make This Monday - Braised Beef with Sun-dried Tomatoes

2 tsp. olive oil
1 lb beef stew meat
1/4 cup rough chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 Tbl. flour
3/4 c water
1/2 c red wine
1/2 cup beef broth
1/2 cup sundried tomatoes
1/2 Tbl brown sugar
1/2 Tbl. worcestshire sauce
3/4 tsp rosemary
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Brown beef in olive oil.
Add onion and cook 7 minutes.
Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
Add flour, cook 2 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer 1 hour and remove tomatoes. Set aside.
Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.

Works for Me: Prepping breakfast the night before

I'm sure many people already do this, but I just started and it has really helped my day get off to a better start.

The baby is usually awake and ready to nurse at the same time that Princess 1 and I are getting up and ready for breakfast. Any delay in tending to baby causes much screaming. So I have started doing the prep the evening before. I get the coffe pot ready to go and set the auto timer. I fill our cups with ice and stick them in the freezer. If I know that we are having cereal the next morning, I will pour it into the bowls and cover them with foil.

Taking 5 minutes to do these things the night before has really reduced my morning stress and helps set a calmer tone for the day. Works for Me!

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Make This Monday - Kielbasa and White Cheddar Pasta

I came up with this while trying to use up leftovers and it became a family favorite.

1/2 lb lean kielbasa, sliced
6 ounces elbow macaroni
1 1/2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon butter
salt and pepper

Cook macaroni until tender. Add butter, salt and pepper and stir incheese. Warm kielbasa for 1 minute in microwave and add to pasta.