Safe & Ready Life

We visited the Safe and Ready Life Store in Milford, OH yesterday. We got some great emergency preparedness stuff and even more ideas for things we want to add to our supplies.

This Store has what you need to be prepared for most anything. They are an excellent source for emergency and disaster supply merchandise.

You can shop online or in store. The friendly, knowledgeable staff can help with product selection. They are even having a class this weekend on Cooking without power!

We highly recommend Safe and Ready Life.

Just click one of the links and check them out!

Linked to Homestead Revival Preparedness Challenge

Building Your Stockpile By Using Coupons

I got inspired by a Co Worker and the show Extreme Couponing and now I am clipping and using coupons!!

I am not as good as the ladies on the show where they just owe a penny when it is all said and done. But I think for a beginner I am doing OK.

My first attempt was at Target. I got $130.00 worth of stuff for $80.00.

On my second trip at Meijer. I had a $16.00 savings

Last was my trip to Kroger. With coupons and my Kroger Plus Card, I had a $30.00 savings.
Then with my Fuel Reward Points, I was able to save .30 cents a gallon and filled up the tank $3.59 a gallon

(See next post where I saved 41% on my shopping trip to Kroger)

Some Tips I have learned so far:
*You reach the extreme level of couponing when you combine coupons with a customer reward card. Those little scan cards on your keyring could get annoying but if it saves money..... I'll do it.

*Never use a coupon on something that is not on sale. You get maximum savings when something is on sale and you use a coupon.

*Check out your favorite stores website. Most have an area where you can look at the weekly ad and make a shopping list. This makes it easy to search your coupon stash and search the sales.



Couponing takes a little time and effort for searching, finding, clipping, watching sales and matching coupons but I think it is worth it.

There are lots of resources and coupons on the internet. Some of the popular sites do the sale and coupon matching for you. One of my favorites is Common Sense with Money. When you sign up for a weekly e-mail at this site you get a free e-book on extreme couponing!

Just find a site you like and start clipping!

*Linked to Homestead Revival Preparedness Challenge

The Survival Podcast

Jack at The Survival Podcast asked listeners

to send in ways that they save money,

I sent in a few ideas and I was

featured in one of his podcasts.

You can listen to the Podcast HERE.

Click the Link and Vote for Me!

Preparedness Challenge at Homestead Revival- 72 Hour Kits

I recently found a great blog, Homestead Revival. Each week she posts a Preparedness Challenge. It helps her and us get motivated to prepare. So when you have some time go check it out.

This week's Challenge is making 72 Hour Kits.

So here is my post on Evacuation Lists.

Our lists are kept in the hall closet on the main level of the house. There are two, one for me and one for Matt. If a emergency comes up and we have to evacuate, we each grab a list and get packing.

We have divided the list into sections depending on the emergency and the expected time that we may be away from the house.

The sections are:
*Get out in 5 minutes or less

*Get out in 10 minutes or less

*Get out in 30 minutes or less

*Get out in 24 hours or less

*And a we are leaving and never coming back list

We made our lists in 2009. The challenge has been to keep the lists updated when we get new items and / or move items.

Making the lists and pre packing items take a little time but it is well worth it if you ever have to use them.

Homestead Revival: Give Away: Water Barrel and Pump

Visit my friend at Homestead Revival for a chance to win a 5 gallon water barrel.
 Homestead Revival: Give Away: Water Barrel and Pump: "5 Gallon Water Drum The give-away this week is sponsored by my favorite preparedness vendor, USA Emergency Supply.

Food Storage Series: Snacks- Bagel Chips and Croutons

I have found a new blog that I am loving.
It is Home Grown by Angie.

Angie recently posted instructions on how to make Bagel Chips and Croutons.

You won't believe how easy it is!

So go check it out and leave a comment on the blog and you will be entered to win an Excalibur Dehydrator!

Print your Blog

Make your Blog into a book:


http://blog2print.sharedbook.com/blogworld/printmyblog/cutestblog/index.html

Holiday Recycling

Donate your Holiday Cards to St. Jude's Ranch for Children.

www.stjudesranch.org/

This organization helps abused, abandoned and neglected children. The children earn money by removing the fronts of donated cards to make new cards that are sold in packets of 10.

You get to recycle, reuse, donate and help a wonderful cause. Check the website for donation and purchasing details.

CDC: Emergency Preparedness and Response

CDC: Emergency Preparedness and Response

This site is intended to increase the nation's ability to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/

Lots of great information......check it out!

Do you love Blog Giveaway's?

Do you love Blog Giveaway's?


The site is having a Giveaway Carnival. There are over 1205 giveaways to enter!!!


Visit http://www.donttryit.com/bloggy_giveaways/

Preserving Food

Check out this site from Oregon State University, it’s one of the best resources online for food preservation on the web. This site has facts to guide you through freezing, drying, canning, smoking, and pickling the fresh goods from your garden.

Another good site you can check out is PreserveFood.com.

Farmhouse Wares

Farmhouse Decor and Gifts with Sustainable Style

http://www.farmhousewares.com/

Cutest Blog

www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/

Cute Backgrounds for your Blog!

And the Winner is.................

Thanks to all those who entered my Giveaway Contest.

I entered all the names into my Randomizer.....Ok....not really. I put each name on a piece of paper and threw them all into a hat. Then Hubs picked a name out of the hat.

The lucky winner of my Giveaway is................... Amanda at http://thisreluctantsoil.blogspot.com/

Please contact me with your name and address and your package will be in the mail soon! shelt28 at yahoo.com

Thanks again to all that entered. This was fun....we will have to do it again real soon!

I WON!!

I won a giveaway from Danielle at Touch the Earth Farm!!!

http://touchtheearthfarm.blogspot.com/2008/08/and-winner-is.html

http://touchtheearthfarm.com/

Yellow Pages

Millions of phone books hit American doorsteps unsolicited every year.

That is more than 19 MILLION TREES!

If you don't a Phone Book, join me in saying "no thanks" at http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/

eHow

Want to find out how to do something? Use eHow! http://www.ehow.com/

It is a great site to find lots of good information.

They have a Writer's Compensation Program which I am participating in.
If you would like to see my work click on the link!

http://www.ehow.com/members/CarolynBarber.html

Check me out.......again!

Earth Heart at http://homesteadheart.blogspot.com/ mentions me and my post about Cast Iron in her post about her Essential Cooking Items.

So go visit her blog and see what she is up to today. She is always making something wonderful. I got a recipe from her for Cabana Banana Jam. It is the most awesome Jam ever!! Watch for a post about that in the future.

Check me out......again!

I was notified by Rick at http://www.cookingincastiron.com/index.html that my post about how to season a cast iron pan was added to their informational/How To section.

If you want to check it out, visit http://www.cookingincastiron.com/index.html and scroll down to the Informational/How To Section. It is the 4th link.

Cool....No?!?!