One Hundred Dollars a Month - Page 1560 of 2143 - I am your typical housewife living in high maintenance suburbia. I have a handsome husband, 2 kids and a flock of pet chickens. I try and feed my family with $100 a month. With the help of coupons, gardening and bartering I am able to squeeze the most out of our grocery budget and still manage to have a little fun along the way.

Raised Garden Beds – Cabbage, Beans, Tomatoes, Potatoes and Garlic

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By Mavis Butterfield on June 13, 2013 · 10 Comments

Lucy and I snapped a few pictures of the raised garden beds this morning and I thought I would show you what’s growing in them. 17 heads of cabbage were planted and so far 2 of them are bolting.

I always think it’s weird when you plant something in the same soil and the conditions are the same but one or two of plants decide to do their own thing. It’s kind of weird if you ask me. I mean I get how the whole bolting thing works, but still. I think it’s odd.

This fat head of cabbage looks perfect though.

Remember the two garden beds where I couldn’t get anything to grow? Well knock on wood because after several attempts, we have green beans and beets coming up in one of the beds.

And potatoes and corn in the other. I don’t know if I’ll actually get any corn to harvest since I only planted a few seeds, but the stalks will still look cool on the porch this fall when it comes time to decorate.

A sea of tomato plants.

Artichokes and garlic. I’ve stopped watering my garlic because the leaves are starting to die back a bit. We typically harvest garlic around the end of June or early July. The garlic plants are looking pretty good considering they got a bit of a late start.

The artichoke plants were started from seed in January and for their first year, I think they look great. This was the first time I had ever started artichokes from seed and for being such a large plant, I’m amazed at how well they are doing.

Squash. Finally! I planted some butternut squash seeds up by the pea teepees early last week and they are just now starting to pop through the soil. I LOVE winter squash and I planted a bunch of seeds so we’ll see what happens.

And last but not least, the potato patch. The HH has been laying grass clippings in the potato beds each time he mows. So far so good. I haven’t noticed any additional slugs. Let’s hope it stays that way.

Did you plant potato plants this year? Are you using any type of mulch?

Mavis wants to know.

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Quick and Easy Strawberry Shortcake With Chocolate Chips

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By Mavis Butterfield on June 13, 2013 · 7 Comments

Here’s a super easy, super tasty strawberry shortcake recipe with a twist. The addition of the chocolate chips just kind of sends this recipe over the top. I mean, who is not a fan of a chocolate/strawberry combo? It totally works here!

Quick and Easy Strawberry Shortcake With Chocolate Chips

Author Mavis Butterfield

Ingredients

1 package {16 oz} strawberries , hulled and quartered
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar , divided
2 1/2 cups all-purpose baking mix {like Bisquick}
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips {I used semi-sweet}
2/3 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup unsalted butter , melted

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425F. Toss half the strawberries with 2 tablespoons sugar and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, stir together baking mix, chocolate chips, 1/4 cup sugar, buttermilk, and butter until blended. Using a 1/3 cup measure, scoop 6 shortcakes onto an ungreased baking sheet and bake until golden brown or about 15 minutes. Cool completely on wire rack.
Mix sugared strawberries and plain strawberries. Cut shortcakes crosswise in half. Spread strawberry pieces on bottom half and top with whipped cream. Top with other half of shortcake. Place a sliced shortcake on a plate, add fresh whipping cream and strawberries and serve. Enjoy!

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How to Make a Bucket List

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By Mavis Butterfield on June 13, 2013 · 11 Comments

I don’t know if it is because my kids are getting older or what, but I have had this urge to start crossing things off my proverbial bucket list. I think now that they don’t need me in the same way, or as much for that matter, as they used to, I’ve had time to start thinking about the things I would like to experience.

The thing is, for me at least, a bucket list has always just been a running tally in my mind–like, I’ve always wanted to see New York at Christmas time. It occurred to me the other day, though, that I should write them all down in an attempt to help them materialize. {I’m going to admit, I probably just want to write them down so I can highlight them when I’ve finished. Oooh, I love to highlight. It’s one of those little things that is soooo gratifying. Ha!}

I feel like when people start to actually DO the things they’ve always wanted to experience, you can totally tell. I don’t really think it actually happens all that often, when people actually start to live {that is not meant to sound as cheesy as it does}. We get so busy raising babies, paying the mortgage, etc. that all of those things get put on the back burner.

Photo Credit

The thing is, when you meet someone who has actually decided that in between all of those things, they are going to start doing a couple of those bucket list items, you immediately like them. Why is that? I think it is because they are happy, and you know it {so clap your hands}. Since happiness and contentment are contagious, I think we should all start a bucket list, and aim to highlight at least one thing a year.

As a service to humanity {ha!}, here is a little jump start on creating your own bucket list:

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will writing your bucket list. Maybe you’ve never allowed yourself the luxury of asking what you reaaaallly want to do. So, think of your list as a malleable {word of the day} thing. Start with the big ones, maybe there is only one, and come back to it after you’ve thought more.
Remember to think passed travel. My mind immediately jumps to travel. But, travel is expensive and time-consuming. All travel would equal no highlighting. Think about smaller items, like write a letter to each of my kids for when they turn 18.
Ask other people what is on their list. Since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, don’t be afraid to copy. This is not a test.
Think in broader terms. There will be a lot of specific items, but think about all of those things you may have daydreamed about, but have no idea how you would actually accomplish it. You never know what life will bring, so your bucket list does not have to come with a operator’s manual. Think: do something that is newsworthy. {Hopefully, this is not on the arrests page. Ha.}
Be accountable. Show your list to your kids, your spouse, and friends. First, it will help your kids start thinking in realms of their goals, and second, it will hold you accountable. Got to show them what it is to attain your dreams, right?
There is a nifty little bucket list creator website that can help you if you are really stuck. You can create your list right on the site, and also choose from thousands of idea. Just go HERE.
Make sure to include some things that are easily attainable, but that you might not do otherwise. For example, read War and Peace.
Remember to think about skills. {Napoleon Dynamite didn’t have any skills, and remember how sad that was?} Include things you’ve always wanted to be able to do: knit, play the piano, learn French.
Don’t be afraid to get specific. Maybe it’s not just that you want to go to France, but you want to try a fresh baked french croissant. {And believe me when I tell you, you really, really do want to try a fresh baked french croissant.}
Last, but not least, make sure to include the things you might have already done. And HIGHLIGHT them! Woohoo! {Sorry, I really should see someone about my highlighting obsession.} Maybe you have already graduated from college {goals are bucket list items}. Maybe it’s get married and have a family. Put it on there, cross it off. Your bucket list should be a visual reminder of your life {embroider that on a pillow}.

Now go get busy. And stay tuned, because I’ll show you mine, if you’ll show me yours! Haha.

~Mavis

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Flip Flops, Father’s Day Gift Ideas, Seed Potatoes, Raccoon Traps, and Juniper Trees

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By Mavis Butterfield on June 13, 2013 · 31 Comments

While out running errands last night with The Girl, we stopped by the Goodwill to see if we could find any treasures. Nada. Nothing. Zilch. We didn’t find anything good. But, we did notice a bunch of used flip flops for sale. Which made me wonder, who on earth would buy a pair of used flip flops? Aren’t they like a buck at Target and Old Navy?

I typically don’t wear foam flip flops {yes I am a sturdy sandal snob} so I’m not sure if I would have bought them. I’ve purchased used shoes and garden boots before, but flip flops? Hmmmm.

If you are looking for a last minute Father’s Day gift, Bartell’s drug store seems to think a Big Hunk candy bar would make an appropriate gift.

While we were out, we also stopped by Wilco. I had to resist not buying more potatoes. I mean, do you really think the 90 pounds of seed potatoes I purchased earlier this year will be enough?

Ricky the raccoon is back and he’s been eyeballing my hens again. If I bought a coon trap,

1. What would I bait it with?

2. How would I get the coon out?

3. What would I do with the coon?

And last but not least, Amber from Facebook sent in this picture of some juniper shrubs she dug up from her friends backyard 2 weeks ago. She carefully transplanted 10 of them in her back yard and fertilized them, but now a few of them are starting to wilt and change colors.

She has already fertilized them and is watering them daily. Amber want’s to know if the junipers are on their last leg, or if they are going to be okay. Since I have no experience with junipers, I thought I would ask YOU for your advise.

What do you think? Do you have any thoughts about the flip flops, potatoes or coop trap? Can you help Amber? Let us know in the comment section below.

~Mavis

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.