Saturday, April 22, 2017

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #99

Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I am glad you've found me! Each week I share my thrifty and frugal projects, ways of saving money, and my blessings from God. 

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage

I am so glad you dropped in for a visit today—or tonight!
Do say hello!
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Dear Reader,

     It's still raining here in Southwest Missouri. We have flash flood warnings and a little bit of water in our basement. I'm praying that God will regulate the rain to give us "only what is sufficient" for us. ~smile~ The more I listen to and read the Bible, the more the phrases are in my head. (Prov. 25:16)

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A Verse for You
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."  
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Here's my thrifty week!
Strawberry Pecan Salad from Longhorn Restaurant


  • My husband and I went out for dinner at Longhorn Restaurant. We ordered each ordered a big strawberry pecan dinner salad and an onion blossom to share. With tip, our total came to $25—just the amount of my gift certificate from Swagbucks (referral link)
  • Amy found a jacket she needed for her costume for the co-op program for just $3!
  • We looked through the supplies on hand and found that we had everything we needed to make Amy's long skirt for her costume. Yay God!
  • I sewed Amy's skirt for her costume.
  • I repaired a pair of jeans and a pair of capris while I was waiting for Amy to iron her fabric.
  • I tried a new to me survey company called Opinion Outpost. My friend told me that she's made about $100 in the last several weeks. I decided to try it. The company's surveys pay from $.50 to $1.50. I've made $5.50 in the last couple days. I get kicked out of many of their surveys just like with Swagbucks. I am nobody's target market, and I know it. ~smile~ I just keep trying until I run out of time. Here's my referral link if you want to try it out. You get $.50 just for filling out the info about yourself. I'm going to cash my points in for PayPal money. They also have some gift cards.
  • We attended the kids' homeschool co-op program. We bid on some things in the silent auction. We didn't win anything, because we didn't get carried away. So we saved money.
  • I got a beautiful card in the mail from a reader. There was a gift card for my favorite place to meet up with friends for lemonade. Chik-Fil-A! Thank you so much Sandi! What a blessing! Sandi also sent me a bag of beautiful cotton yarn to make dishcloths with. Thank you!
Well, that's my thrifty week. 
What are you doing in your home this week?
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"True Christianity finds all of its doctrines in the Bible;
true Christianity does not deny any part of the Bible;
true Christianity does not add anything to the Bible.
For many centuries the Bible has been the most available
book on the earth.  It has no hidden purpose. 
It cannot be destroyed."

p 58

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ღLauraღ
...doing what I can with what I've got
where I am on a short shoestring budget!

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 Related Posts
  • A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #8
  • A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #9
  • A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #10
  • Frugal Self-Rising Flour
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30 comments:

  1. My that salad looks good! So glad you are making some extra $$ off of taking surveys. Good for you! So nice of someone to send you a gift card. You have a wonderful weekend! See you next time!

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  2. Love your new profile picture! I like Longhorn restaurant a lot. That is sort of my and my husband's 'place'. There is a little out of the way one that actually sits next to the interstate but it's very quiet and pretty and intimate there unlike the one in the bigger city north of there. We don't go often but we really enjoy it when we do go.

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    Replies
    1. It's a rare treat, but thanks to Swagbucks, we could splurge.

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  3. Oh, that is my FAVORITE salad in the world! I always get it when we go to Longhorn! Now, you have me craving it! LOL! Thanks for sharing, sweet friend. :) Have a blessed weekend!

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    1. Oh Cheryl. I am sorry. ~smile~ I have only been a few times... once at a friend's guest, once as my pastor's guest, once as my dad's guest, and once for our anniversary. It's special indeed.

      Enjoy your weekend...saying a prayer for you and your family.
      Laura

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  4. We're under flood warnings too, Laura! Dontcha just wish the rain would come once a day for an hour?! Everything gets a nice drink, it all stays spring green, and it has time to soak in and dry before the next time!! I walked out on the lawn today and it sounds like I'm walking on a sponge...squish, squish, squish.

    Oooh, that salad looked dee-lish. And the onion blossom is DH's absolute favorite. I didn't know anyone carried those anymore since Chili's discontinued them. I might have to find that restaurant and treat DH.

    Isn't that so cool when you either find what you needed in your own house or someone just happens to offer it to you?! We had both this week, sorta! Our bread maker died a couple of months ago. I have terrible wrists and kneading dough beyond a minute causes me a lot of pain. Well, our church youth group was doing a big garage sale and they had TWO. We bought one similar to ours for a whopping $4! We were tickled. And it's barely been used. I think it was a fad for many. We've always used ours because of my tendonitis. My other lucky break came when I was searching my closet for a solution to my worn out summer skirt situation. Nothing....but then I eyed two denim dresses (one chambray and one dark denim) that I just can't wear here in summer as I about die from the heat around my chest and neck. I end up wearing them a couple of times in fall & spring. So, I'm going to tear off the bottom, sew in elastic and make myself TWO new skirts!

    Debby in KS

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    Replies
    1. Making your dresses over is a great idea Debby. I have a dress that is worn out on the arms, I may make the bottom into a skirt. In fact, I have a denim dress that I don't like to wear because it's too short. Maybe, just maybe it would work as a skirt.
      Thanks for the inspiration.
      Laura

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  5. The Longhorn meal sounds fantastic..Proud you two had a nice evening.
    I am going to try your new survey.. I too, get kicked out all the time on swagbucks..ha
    Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

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  6. I'm so glad you liked the gift card. Have fun. Hugs, Sandi

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  7. Love when there is just enough to cover a special meal. :) I need to pull out the sewing machine and do some mending and alter a few things. One of those things I keep putting off. I might try out the survey, even though like you I don't seem to the target market either. Have a great week!

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  8. I look forward to your weekly frugal post each week! Oh that salad looks good. That was so sweet of Sandy to send you such a thoughtful gift!

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    1. Hi Debbie,
      Thank you, I am honored. I asked my Lowell to take a photo, and we wrote down the ingredients. Maybe I'll make it at home one day. Sometimes buying all the different ingredients makes things like that cost prohibitive even though the per serving cost might be lower.
      Enjoy your Sunday!
      Laura

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  9. Sounds like a wonderful dinner out!

    I got a good buy on bananas today.

    We got to eat buffet this week one afternoon at the pizza place.
    A fair price on it, not fabulous, but very good food.
    Lunch buffet is cheaper than a dinner meal.

    I ate supper last night with my family, no cooking! Grin

    I got new books and dvds at the library.
    I bought two exercise books today there off the cart for fifty cents each.
    $22.95 on the back cover of one of them.
    I printed off free quilt patterns also, ten cents each page.

    I sent in for a $20.00 rebate on car repair parts. Not sure when it will come.

    I also bought some almond milk, my first time trying it. It is not bad. I have frozen most of it in ice cube trays, to make some smoothies with. Hoping to try that, to add in some veggies to them. I have had fruit ones, but have not put in any greens before.

    Today I got marked down slaw mix, ninty nine cents. Coleslaw coming!
    I also got sale price on two cucumbers. They are still two high this time of year.
    Still refilling many of my water bottles.

    I patched my work jeans, good for a few more wears. Although I look like Jed Clampetts cousin 😉 in them.




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    Replies
    1. You are so much thriftier than I am Annie. Perhaps you should be writing weekly posts! I'll email you soon.

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  10. Your salad looks delicious! All for your hard work on Swagbucks! Great job. I have given up on the surveys -I must not be the person they need anymore at all! You had such a great week!

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    1. Hi Vickie, I've been gravitating toward Opinion Outpost this past week. I've been having better results. I'm working for dimes instead of pennies. ~grin~
      God bless!
      Laura

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  11. Good Morning, How lovely that you were able to spend a lovely evening with your husband, enjoying good food together without spending too much money.
    I love your creativity, when my daughter's were small I would cut up my dresses and use the material to make dresses for them....and they loved that their new dress was previously one of mums. It's amazing how much money we can save by giving it a little thought.
    Have a lovely day with your family.
    Best Wishes
    Daphne

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    Replies
    1. Remaking your dresses for your daughters is a wonderful idea!
      There are ways of saving we've not even thought of. Reading old books is a great way to find ideas.
      Be blessed,
      Laura

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  12. You always make me smile, Laura...not sure about thrifty here, but hubby made extra hamburgers and we have been eating those this week. lol

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  13. I found the recipe (knockoff) http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/just-like-longhorns-strawberry-pecan-salad-2249

    I make a lot of salads at home, this one doesn't look too hard. I would probably reduce the Feta to 1/8 cup per salad and make the glazed nuts at home of course. The spring mix and Feta are cheap at Aldi and grapes are on sale this week.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Deb! I pinned it. I may make that this week. I got some of the grapes. Yum, ours were sweet.
      Miss you friend!
      Laura

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  14. My favorite thrifty thing to do is to find new ways to use leftovers. This week, we had leftover rice and beans, which I turned into a fun nacho-style casserole. I put crushed chips on the bottom, mixed in sour cream and salsa with the rice and beans, and spread cheese on top and baked. Topped with pico de gallo, it was amazing!

    I have not had any luck with swagbucks, I found it too time consuming, but you always encourage me to keep trying with your gift card from them to eat at Longhorns! The salad looks amazing, I have made strawberry salad many times, and it is about time of year to make it again when the fresh strawberries come into season here.

    Always enjoy your thrifty ways! Hugs to you today :)

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    1. I once made a strawberry salad with spinach, and I think, feta cheese. I made a homemade poppy seed dressing to go with it. I sure wish I knew what I'd done with that dressing recipe. It was delish!
      God bless!
      Laura

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  15. Great ways to be frugal! I like your list. We do many frugal things on a regular basis, BUT right now w/ a daughter w/ long term sickness (8 months so far!!!), I have started getting quite comfortable with using paper plates at times. Yes, I have felt guilty about it, but that is getting better. :) It is a not frugal thing, but we are in survival mode and this mom is really getting tired... and my wonderful kids have been amazing helps in all of this... and our family is tired.... so... paper plates. sigh. Not all of the time, but at least a couple of times a week.

    On a better note, though, I did find a church sale w/ clothes for $1 each... but while we were shopping, they changed it to $1/bag!!!!!!!! They were paper grocery sacks... and we had about 5 of them. Many things for the family. :) Same sale netted me a LONG commercial garden hose for $5,shoes for a couple of us for $1 each, wingback chair for $12.50 and some fun household stuff at great prices. What a blessing. :) Hope you have a great week. :)

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    1. Dear Gentle Joy,

      Use paper plates! Don't feel bad about it at all!
      Saving time and energy and frustration is worth it for sure.
      Father God, I pray that you will bring life, and health and healing in Jesus' name.

      Congratulations on the clothes. Did you know that if you roll the clothes up good and tight, you can get more in a bag? Might be helpful next time.

      I am having a good week by faith!
      Hugs,
      Laura

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  16. The new link at Our Holiday Journey is up. Feel free to link any post. This is a great time to get more points!
    http://ourholidayjourney.blogspot.com/2017/04/anything-goes-fabulous-party.html
    Let's party!

    ReplyDelete

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Your blog friend,
Laura Lane
5 Year Cancer Survivor