Super Easy Biscuits

Hello Friends,

It's been a while since I last posted. Some how time just flies by and it doesn't even have wings. LOL


While I have not been very successful making biscuits this one is kind of no fail. So I wanted to share the recipe for 7 Up biscuits. These biscuits only have three ingredients so they are super easy to make and most of the time you will have the ingredients on hand.

7 Up Biscuits

4 cups Bisquick
1 cup sour cream
1 cup 7 Up
1/2 cup melted butter

Heat oven to 425 degrees.
Put the melted butter in a 9 x13 pan. Cut sour cream into Bisquick then add 7 Up (only 1 cup not the whole bottle or can.) Put the mixture onto a well floured surface (parchment paper makes for easy clean up.) Pat down or roll to about 1 inch thickness. Cut with biscuit cutter, flour it each time you cut. Place in melted butter. Bake until golden brown about 20 to 25 minutes. This recipe makes about 24 biscuits depending on the size of cutter you use. I usually cut the recipe in half and use an 8 x 8 pan.

If there are any leftovers the next day they are even better cut in half with butter on top and toasted in the oven. Yum Yum!!

This recipe and picture is from Plain Chicken. They have plenty of other good recipes too.

Have a thrifty day!!!

It's the Thrifty Little Things that Count!!

Happy 4th of July weekend to all!

While we all look for the big things to get a lot of savings it's the little things that add up. Speaking of little things, you may think what in the world could you do with an empty toilet paper roll. LOL!

Here's one of the best ideas I have seen in a long time and I couldn't wait to share it with you. How many times have you reached in a drawer for an extension cord and it looked like a snake pit. You spend way too much time just trying to get them untangled. So here's the simple "Thrifty" solution.

An empty toilet paper roll. Just fold your cords up and slide them in. Whoever thought this up qualifies as a genius in my book. You could also take some washi tape and run it around the tube for extra interest but the main thing is you have those cords corralled.

So no more cord snake pits in your house. Thanks to a little thing that we normally put in the trash. 

Cost: "ZERO." Time: Only a couple of minutes. The results: Quicker cord access.

Have a safe and blessed Independence day! Stay "THRIFTY."

Oh Dear! Early Christmas Plan

Good Morning Y'all!

Reading the title of this post you may think I have totally lost my mind. Who in the world is saying anything about Christmas in May? I am even ahead of the retail gurus. That is a feat in and of itself. Here's how I got to Christmas. Yesterday as I was sitting out on the new porch looking at some old magazines (one of my favorite things to do.) I realized most of the old ones I had picked up were from Christmas. LOL!!! I save them for ideas and inspiration.

As I thumbed through them and saw the cute decorations, yummy recipes, and gift ideas I realized how relaxed I was. Something unheard of when Christmas approaches. Normally we get so overwhelmed and antsy about everything we never get to enjoy it. 

When the retailers start all the Christmas promotions we begin to think about what we will do this year. We have tons of new recipes we were going to make. In our mind we see the beautiful tree we are going to copy from from our Pinterest board. Then it hits us. We either don't have the time, energy or the cash to make it all happen like we want. So here we are all down in the mouth and it's the most wonderful time of the year. 

So what's a girl to do to make the dream Christmas happen this year? We can make an early plan. We can take the time to get real with what we can and can't do both physically and financially. Now that we are not under the gun to get all those gifts bought, attend so many parties and get to a whole bunch of children's activities, we can take a time out and think. A real luxury when it comes to Christmas. 

So how about it? Are you thinking: "It's May and I am into summer right now or I'll deal with Christmas later." Well hear me now on this... it will be Christmas before you can say Jack Sprat. As for me I'm making some notes and I'm squirreling away a few dollars here and there. No, I don't have it all planned down to the last detail but it's a work in progress. I want this Christmas to be better than last year when I ran around with my hair on fire trying to get it all done. LOL!!!!    

You all have a wonderful day and let me be the very first person this year to wish you a Merry Christmas ... LOL....

Taking Care of Yourself

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm so glad you stopped by today for this is a special post for all women. I'm not saying men couldn't use it but it's mostly for women. The reason I'm saying this is because women are so guilty of taking care of everyone under the sun but they seem to forget about themselves.

If you are one of the women who have already figured this out my hat is off to you. But it has taken me a long time to see the value of taking care of myself not only for me but for the other people in my life. One of the bad things that comes from not taking care of yourself is you can easily become bitter and resentful. Now understand you don't get up in the morning and decide you want to be this way but it happens over time. While you have done and done for everyone over and over, no one appears to do for you. So what's a girl to do? How do you take care of yourself without leaving pillar and post behind as you drive off into the sunset to a luxurious spa way out west with all your 401K in hand?

That being said let's just start small and work our way up to a luxurious spa. Here are a few questions you could ask yourself to get some ideas.

1. How old is your tube mascara? Is it all clumped and dry but you just keep on  using it?

2. What about the rest of your makeup is it old? Or do you even use any because you think no one cares?      
3. Now to one of the biggies. How many holes are in your underwear? How long has it been since you bought anything new in that department.
4. What is happening in the exercise and vitamin area? Anything at all?
5. Have you had your teeth whitened?

Well, I am sure you get the idea. Listen these things won't break the bank. A new tube of mascara is under $10.00 depending on the brand and there are always coupons in the newspaper and magazines. You don't have to go to a big fancy department store to get some new makeup and creams. There is unlimited information on the internet about how to pamper your beautiful face. Again we will get on the internet to check out something for someone else but we can't forget about ourself in the meantime.

Now no one really thinks they have any time to exercise or the money to get a gym membership but you have two feet and plenty of parks or your neighborhood you could walk around for even fifteen minutes a day. Cost .... zero.

Vitamins are another story. We know we are not getting all of the vitamins our body need to be in it's best shape but we forget to help it along. Oh, you think those puppies are too expensive. But did you know Kroger has them buy one get one free and there are coupons for them too.

White teeth. The dentist will charge $200.00-500.00 but did you know you can whiten them with a little baking soda, peroxide and a dab of toothpaste. If you brush them with this mixture for a few nights you will see those pearly whites appear. Cost .... probably zero because you've got this stuff in your cabinet.

Underwear can be very expensive but who says you have to get the Victoria Secret stuff. The main thing is you get new underwear without holes and that is a real boost to your attitude.

One of the thriftiest things you can do is to be kind, loving and forgiving to yourself. Just makeup your mind you will stop all the negative self talk and give yourself a break. Take a minute to look for something you do well. There is not one of us who would treat another person like we treat ourself sometimes. Decide you will be your own best friend.

Maybe this post has opened your eyes to some things you can do "on the thrifty side" to take care of yourself. One of the things we have to remember is to practice taking care of yourself. Change takes time but a little here and a little there can make a big difference.

Here's one of those parting cliques we tell people.... TAKE CARE....  Have a blessed week and stay thrifty.

The Black Hole Purse Problem

Hello to all,

How many of you have that big black hole in your purse? You know all the little stuff just goes all the way to the bottom of the purse. Then you end up spending way to much time with your hand feeling around on the bottom trying to find what you are looking for.

Here is a good solution to the black hole purse problem: It's clear makeup bags. You can go to Walmart, Target or the Dollar Store and get them for $1.00 or $1.50 each. Then you can take all your little stuff and put it in them. Now all you have to do is pull out one of your clear bags and Ta Da! You have just saved scads of time and mental anguish digging for missing items.

I bought two of them and separated my lipstick, ink pen, kleenex stuff into one and then all the miscellaneous stuff in the other one. I have to say I am one happy camper with this quick solution. It also helps if you are someone who changes purses very often. Now all you have to do is move your billfold and the two bags then call it done.

Don't you think this definitely falls into the "Thrifty" category? Have a blessed weekend and remember to "Stay Thrifty."

Valentine Tablescape

Well, Good morning to all!

I've been away from the blog world for a month or more. We had a death in the family and a new grandbaby born. So needless to say "Thrifty Sissy" took a backseat. But today I want to share one of my favorite things to decorate. It's the kitchen table.

We all know the kitchen is the heart of the home and since our table is one the first things you see when you come in from the back porch or from the garage it gets centerstage for each season.

                                                     
                                      Welcome to our Valentine table.

The very first thing I did was to take an old cover. I really don't know what else to call it other than that. It's not a quilt or a tablecloth. But it is my favorite color, pink. So with that being the start I added the pink heart shaped beaded placemats followed with the silver chargers. Then topped that with the sweetie pie plates from Target. The matching glasses are filled with strings of confetti so they don't look so empty. Those white napkins with the little pink bow give some added fluff.

Then there is that fabulous red/pink/white stripe heart shaped platter under the candleholder filled with a red candle and confetti. Of course you need some green with all that pink so the little topiaries add some height to the table. I almost forget the little Valentine cat holding the red heart. That came from Home Goods last year when they had it on sale for $3.00. I also got those plaid "Be Mine" napkins from Home Goods too, only $2.00 on sale. This Thrifty Sissy loves a sale. LOL.

So there you have it we are all set for a girl's most special day of the year. I hope your Valentine's day is over the top. You don't have to wait until the 14th to celebrate it. You can enjoy it all month long with a cute tablescape.

Stay "Thrifty" and have a wonderful week.

Hot Spot- Clutter Catcher

Happy New Year to you all! 

I hope you have made some new year's resolutions??? Well, people are now calling them goals. I guess is a little easier to take if you just don't make your goal rather than not being able to keep a resolution. Funny how we can trick ourself isn't it?

Most of us want to start the new year with a clean slate. We have all the stores advertising the containers for organizing your stuff. The magazines are touting three easy ways to declutter and how to store your things efficiently. So I thought I would add an idea to the mix.

Do you have a hot spot? I'm not talking about a place that is especially warm in your house. LOL. But a place where everything seems to land and pile up. Here's a picture of the hot spot at our house. It's suppose to be my command center but it doesn't look very impressive in this photo. 

At our house this is how a hot spot occurs: 

1. It is the first flat spot when you come in from the garage.

2. It is normally where important things are placed that need attention from 

    Thrifty Honey or myself.

3. Things land there because nobody knows what to do with them.

4. The biggest reason hot spots happen is because we get busy and things

    don't get put away where they belong.             

Now this hot spot is not too bad but believe me if it is left alone for a day or so it would be overflowing. The absolute worst resident of a hot spot is the mail. Oh my word!!! I just can not believe all the advertisements and junk mail that creeps into our house. Normally when I bring it in I go through it right way and shred or recycle the papers, but if I miss a day or two it becomes a real mess. 

So what's a girl to do about the inevitable hot spot? Since we know they are going to happen we just have to clear them out every night before we go to bed. So even it one does occur for a little while it will not be allowed to continue for too long. Yes, that sounds a lot like discipline to me but let's just call it "practice" to make it easier to get started.

It's that old saying: "Have a place for everything and keep everything in its place." Just doing this one little thing will solve a multitude of organizational problems. Plus you don't have to organize or declutter the entire house in one swoop. You can take baby steps to get started and be kind to yourself when you forget to practice. 

When you keep your hot spot cleared off there is a lot less chance of it eating your keys, cell phone and your bills which need to be paid. I read a story about someone who finally cleaned off their desk which was their hot spot. This person found a $50.00 check and a several gifts cards mixed in with all the paper clutter. They also found the scotch tape and scissors which had been lost for a long time. 

I hope this will inspire you to put out your hot spot before it sets the house on fire. Have a wonderful week and remember to stay "thrifty."