Follett Educational Services

I just had to ordered some TE books for my son. I have to say the best place all around for textbooks is http://www.fes.follet.com. I really like this company. They've changed their website a little but for the most part, I can find what I need at the right price. The particular book I was looking for cost between $70-$125 everywhere I looked. It only cost $51 at Fes Follett. I just ordered it on Wednesday and I'm expected to get it Friday. I'm so excited! My son on the other hand is not so excited. It is Algebra after all.

If you're a homeschooler and need to pickup textbooks, I would highly recommend this company. If you have any questions about them, be sure to drop me a line! Oh, and another thing, when you're finished with the books, you can sell it back to them! How great is that?!

Finding bargains is all in a day's work but it's also rewarding!

Until next time,
Carmen

Friday Favorites!

So this dessert is a new favorite of mine. It's based on the yogurt parfait at McDonald's. While spending a buck for it is not really a big deal, it's so much better when you can make it yourself! Here's how I did it.

Penny Pincher's Parfait

I started off trying to find the perfect yogurt, which for me was Dannon's Vanilla Yogurt. I followed that with some simple frozen mixed berries. I'm partial to strawberries at berries go. That's the beauty of making it yourself. You can make it just the way you want. You could use low fat yogurt or sugar free if they have it. (I like sugar and fat so that won't work for me!) The hardest thing to find was the granola. I wanted the kind that looked like the one at McDonald's but could never find it, or it was more than I was willing to pay. Then, I came across a recipe for granola that was so easy that even I could do it. It made enough granola to fill a gallon size storage bag and we also use it as cereal so we cut down on buying cereal! I like having a one, two punch to boot! To make the parfait you just add the yogurt to your serving dish top with the berries, add more yogurt, then more berries and so on until you get to the top. Let your last layer be yogourt with just a garnish of berries and then had the granola. Here's the recipe for the granola.

Easy Granola

Ingredients:

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup oil (canola is fine)

1/2 cup of honey

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. vanilla

7 cups oats (I've used quick cooking and old fashioned and old fashioned is better)

1. Mix brown sugar, oil, and honey in a small saucepan. Bring to a low boil.

2. Remove from heat. Stir in cinnamon and vanilla.

3. Pour over oats in a large bowl. Stir until well coated.

4. Spread oats in a 9x13 pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

5. Take out and stir.

6. Return pan to oven. Turn oven off.

7. You can either leave it overnight or go back to it after 45 minutes to an hour and enjoy!

It's so good y'all! (An ode to Paula Deen!) This doesn't last very long in our house. You can add roasted pecans or other nuts, dried fruit for a trail mix or anything else you can come up with. I just came across a recipe for making your own yogurt in a crock pot! I'll let you know how that comes out when I try it. Just because cooking is all in a day's work, doesn't mean it can't be your favorite activity! Just keep it fun and tasty! Everyone loves a parfait!

Until next time,

Carmen

Body Wash Alert

I got a sample from Wal-mart a few weeks back from Caress. It's the Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash. It smells sooooo good! It reminds me of coffee and cinnamon rolls. My husband says he likes it and even my kids liked it.

Well, while I was out and about yesterday my sister told me that someone blogged about this particular body wash. I, of course, forgot all about the sample I had! The blogger stated that it cost only about $6. Imagine my surprise when I found it for $3.87! Whoohoo! 18oz for $3.87! Of course, it's going to go up in price if it gets really popular so I get I better stock up, huh?!

Once I give it a try I'll let you know how it goes. My skin has been really dry this winter. I've been taking more baths and I'll admit they're usually in hot water since I'm always freezing. I'll stop doing that (hot water baths not bathing altogether!). I really need to find a good moisturizer for my skin also. Anyone have a recommendation? I'd love to hear it!

Until next time,
Carmen

Hi all!

Good morning, afternoon or evening wherever you are! How are things going for everyone? For me, so far so good. I wanted to start doing the Master Cleanse but when I went to the store, they were completely out! I guess I wasn't the only wanting to start.

I spent most of the day yesterday trying to recover from back spasms. I don't know where I got that from since I've never had problems with it before. Anyway, this morning I felt much better and so I headed to the store in 28 degree weather. Anyone who knows me knows that's not like me at all since I hate cold weather. I just felt like I had to get out of the house though. The cold air certainly woke me up. I just wished I had a hot cup of coffee to keep me warm. I usually don't wear a jacket when I'm driving because it feels restrictive, but you better believe I had one on this morning!! (With gloves to boot!)

After I got home, the nurse from home health (for my mom) was already here. Fortunately they've discharged her which means she's doing significantly better. They packed up all their equipment and said goodbye. If you ever find that you need that service, make sure you look into it. It was well worth it!

Then I started scheduling school work. I really tried to let them do it on their own, but at some point you got get in there and handle it before it gets too overwhelming for them and me! Of course they balked and complained, but like my husband likes to say, "Just take a deep breath...and then get over it!" I don't even have to say it to them now. I just take a deep breath and they usually desist from the whining!

So now I'm blogging and trying to spend some time organizing, and scheduling myself. It's all in a day's work!

Until next time,
Carmen

We have normality!

Thanks for sticking with me guys. Things have been pretty rough for the last couple of months, but I think times are changing. Winter is the worst time of year for me. I practically go into hibernation, but now I feel the days getting longer and I'm starting to come back to life. I just wished the threat of snow would go away.

Don't get me wrong, I love watching the snow from inside. In fact, once in a while I'll even go out in it and play! But if I had my way, I'd be near a beach somewhere melting. I'd rather drip in sweat than to be slightly chilled! That's just me. :-)

I just wanted to stop in and let you know I'm still here. I have a tendency to believe that I have to write something lengthy or nothing at all. Just to make sure I'm contributing more, I will have more frequent blogs but not as long.

Until next time,
Carmen