8 ways Valentines could help you survive a zombie outbreak

Attention grabber I know.  It was fitting with the first Valentine I made for the season.  This one is for Big B.  I just received the Mini Monster Cricut cartridge and it was too cute to not do this one!  I use my awesome new mini monsters and the George and basic shapes cartridge.  I think it turned out super cute!  I think that next time I might use a different color for the I Heart You.  The pink didn't show up very well.  

I also entered this on
Fantabulous Cricut  for their Challenge Me Monday #97 - Love is in the air project.
More than Favors - Wacky Wednesday # 64 - Love
  

Has anyone noticed that my pictures are awesomely clear but kind of off on the color.  I got a DSLR camera for Christmas from Big B and I am still working out how to use it properly, so bear with me.  But the pictures are so clear... it is great.  I can't wait to get the hang of this thing so that the color looks super awesome too.  I need to get a few accessories yet.  It is hard to decide what to buy on my limited budget.  Do I get the lens or the Cuttlebug??  I got a Sizzix Texture Boutique Embossing Machine Beginner's Kit on Amazon for cheap.  I can't wait until it gets here.  Next purchase will definitely be a camera purchase.  

I mentioned the Jell-O money saver in my very first post.  I was at the Grocery last night and I looked to see the size of each single serve Jell-O cups.  3.9 oz.  My cups are 3 oz.  I don't think that there is actually much of a difference.  On box of Jell-O makes me 8, 3 oz cups.  It actually come out the same 6 premade singles of Jell-O = one box.  Yeah I shouldn't have to justify that one, you save $2.00 or more!! And the kids love it!!

This is Lil Mr. paitently wait for his delicious Jell-O!

I HEART my Cricut

My best friend's daughter turned 1 last weekend.  I used this opportunity to make a homemade card using my Cricut and a new cartridge that I got for Christmas.  I used the Sweet Treats  cartridge... LOVE IT!  I know that I linked the this to the Cricut website... but don't pay full price for these things!  The go on sale all the time and you can get them on eBay for WAY cheap!!  Actually I just picked up the Mini Monsters cartridge on eBay for only $18.50!! That included shipping! It's normally $49.99! I am going to make the invitations for Lil Mr's FIRST BIRTHDAY party using that cartridge.  That will be another wonderful post... Can't wait!! But here is the card I made...

And I made a cute little gift tag...

And yes I made the ribbon attachment too.  That is too easy!  Just take a look at one next time you are in the store!  I just cut a bunch of curling ribbon and stapled it in the middle to a square of card stock that matched the wrapping paper.  Then I curled the ribbon with my scissors and  I put a little glue dot on the back of the card stock for "stickiness".  Too easy and cost WAY less!  My card was a hit!

Microwave Popcorn on a Dime

Just as I promised... Microwave Popcorn for a fraction of the cost.

1 box of buttery yummy mini bags of popcorn $2.75 per box (Jolly Time Brand, 100 calorie, healthy pop Butter popcorn, 4 bags per box) That rounds out to about $.68 per serving.  Not bad.
1 bag of Popping Corn $1.48 per 32oz bag (Great Value Brand <Walmart's house brand>)  That rounds out to 16 2 oz servings at $.09 a serving
1 bag of 50 count brown paper bags $.99 rounding out to $.02 a paper bag

$.68 a serving for prepackaged popcorn or $.11 for a DIY bag.  Both done in the microwave.  Your at home bag is healthier too because you add your own toppings.  Spray butter works GREAT!

So if you eat one mini bag a week costing $.68 a bag each year you spend $35.36 roughly.  If you make your own at $.11 you spend $5.72 saving you $29.64  That doesn't sound like much at all.  However if you are like me and you love your popcorn it adds up.  I work five days a week.  I probably take popcorn to work with me 3 of those days at least, and Big B and I eat 2 more mini bags with a movie on Sundays.  So we consume (at least) 5 bags a week.  5 bags was costing us about  $176 a year.  Now I spend about $28 a year.

It's totally worth it if you LOVE popcorn as much as we do!! And c'mon, it really isn't that much more work!!

Happy Popping!