If you’ve ever thought of starting a blog or if you have a blog that you’d like to make even better, you’ll want to check out this giveaway over at The University of Better Blogging.  Enter to win a FREE seat in one of their interactive Blogging E-Courses (normally $19.95) AND a FREE copy of the e-book, How to Blog More Productively ($5.95).

They’re also giving away a copy of the book. Blogging for Bliss, this week.

Check out all the details on these giveaways for bloggers here!

Head over to Coupongeek.net to read my guest post on freezer meals for breakfast! 

Jaycie did a great series throughout the month of February on saving time and money by planning meals to make and freeze in advance. 

Today was the last installment of the series but be sure to click on the links to the rest of the series from my guest post!

You may have noticed that posting has slowed down a bit here at The Domestic Contessa. 

I wanted to let you know that this slow-down is a bit intentional on my part.  I am working through my expectations and plans for this blog and so have been trying to take a step back and re-assess things. 

I have a lot on my plate right now and am trying to determine the best use of my time.  Doing this requires time – which has to come from somewhere!

I LOVE blogging and writing here at The Domestic Contessa (and love interacting with all of you!) so definitely don’t plan to drop it altogether.  I just wanted to let you know that the posts might not be coming as frequently as before.

As I attempt to think through the future of The Domestic Contessa, I’d appreciate your input.  Are there any particular posts you find helpful?  If you have a minute, please leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts!

Monday – Chicken Enchiladas, rice, peas

Tuesday – Pancakes, bacon, eggs

Wednesday- Tiajuana Taco Dip

Thursday – Crockpot Chicken Hobos

Friday – Frozen Pizza

I’ve been hearing about this idea quite a bit lately…  The idea of paying for as many of your budgeted items as possible with cash.  This means putting away those credit cards (or even cutting them up) unless they are absolutely necessary.

I completely understand the concept of why this sytem would work to help keep a person on track budget-wise (once the envelope has no more cash in it, there is no more money to spend).  And I have respect for those who are able to successfully use this system!

But, I have to say that I’m really not convinced that it’s the way for our family to go right now (and I have hubby’s backing on this, too).  For whatever reason, I feel overwhelmed at switching over to the envelope system.  And, for whatever other reason, this has actually been discouraging to me…

Until today!  What changed?  I read Using Cash for Your Budget Problem Areas over at Our Simple Life.  And I really like Leslie’s idea… Use the cash system for those areas in your budget that you particularly struggle to stay on track in! 

For us, this would be our “eating out” fund.  If we were to take out, in cash, the money for the month that we have set aside to eat out, it would be so much easier to track how much we have left to spend as the month goes along!

You know what I’ve noticed lately?  Sometimes, the best way to save money and stretch my dollars is to just stay home.  Unless I really need to go out to run an errand, I try to stay at home as much as possible.  I’ve found that my trips out just to kill some time, or just to “get out of the house”, usually end up costing me money that I hadn’t planned on spending.

It’s really cold outside here so the idea of going to the nearby mall to walk around has come to mind… 

But I know my weakness.  If I come across a really good deal, a really great bargain, that gotta-have-it clearance item, I’m going to be way tempted to buy it!  And when I do buy it, I’ll actually have convinced myself that I’m saving us lots of money!  The deals I find might be really good ones, but knowing that we don’t need anything right now… how much money am I really saving?  If I stay away from the mall, I won”t have spent a cent!

Another place I like to walk through when I have spare time is Hobby Lobby… 

Oh the wonderful ideas there are out there for things to make and sew and create!  But, I seem to get this mental block when I go into that store – and forget that I have two kiddos under the age of three, a house to keep… and everything else that takes up time in life.  I find great ideas for making things that, in the long run will save us money, of course… but how much money have I spent on lofty aspirations to make gifts and items only to have them still sitting in my closet undone?  Why?  Because I don’t have the time to do them!  Again, I won’t have to spend a cent if I just stay home…

Now, being a stay-at-home-mom, I completely understand the need, every once in a while, to just “get OUT of the house”!  Especially in the cold winter months, when going to walks around the neighborhood or breaking up the day by spending some of it in the backyard just aren’t feasible. 

So, I’ve been trying to think of places to go where I won’t be tempted to spend any money.

Like the library… 

Or calling up a friend and asking if we can bring our lunch over and share it with her and her little one…

That way, we’re getting out (which I know the kids really enjoy to do, too) but without spending any money!

What about you?  What suggestions do you have for ways to “get out of the house” without the temptation to spend?  I’d love to hear!

This dish is pretty filling… another one that we often eat as a meal.  It’s a great meal for a movie or for watching a game!

Tiajuana Taco Dip

1 – 16 oz. can refried beans

1 c. salsa

1 tsp. red hot sauce

1 lg. tomato, chopped

3/4 c. mont. jack cheese, grated

1/2 lb. ground beef

2 tsp. chili powder

1 cup black olives, sliced

1 c. grated Cheddar cheese

1 c. sour cream

Garnishes – chopped green onions, black olives, tomatoes,

Tortilla chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Mix together refried beans, salsa (3TBPS) and 1/2 tsp. hot sauce.  Spread this in 1.5 quart casserole dish.  Top with chopped tomatoes and mont. jack cheese. 

Cook beef with the chili powder; drain fat.  Stir in the remaining salsa, hot sauce, and the olives.  Spread this over mont. jack cheese in dish.  Sprinkle evenly with the cheddar cheese. 

Bake for 15-20 minutes, until heated through. 

Spread sour cream over top (or serve separately).  Garnish as desired. 

Serve with tortilla chips.

I have made this dish without the tomatoes if I don’t have any on hand – it still turns out tasting great!  Also, for our family, I don’t serve it with sour cream since we aren’t huge fans.

LifeAsMom has a great link-up of Super Bowl Food Recipes going on this week!  Head over there for some more ideas!

Growing up, this recipe was a favorite at my house.  I haven’t made these in so long, but thinking ahead to the Superbowl this weekend, these might be just the thing to serve!

Japanese Chicken Wings

2 lbs. chicken wings

1 large jar apricot baby food (or 1 cup apricot jam)

1/2 tsp. ginger

1 large garlic clove, minced

1/2 cup soy sauce

Separate wings into two pieces at joint.  You may discard the tips, if desired. 

Combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl; add in the wings and coat thoroughly. 

Marinate in refrigerator overnight, stirring 2-3 times during this period. 

Arrange wings on a broiler pan in a single layer.  Discard the marinade. 

Preheat over to 350 degrees; bake for 1 hour, then broil for 5 minutes until crispy brown.

We used to eat these as the main course of a meal – they are delicious!

Here’s the deal:

Bar-S Hot Dogs $0.88
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Coupon Geek has more Freebies and Deals at Walmart this week.

Head over and Enter the Great Gallon Give and you will have access to print a coupon for a FREE 1/2 gallon of chocolate milk with the purchase of a gallon of milk!

I don’t know how long the coupon offer will last so I’d hurry over there and get your coupon (I just did!)!

Thanks, Money Saving Madness!