Terrific B & B

Ok, so we loved Eagle Rock Lodge as mentioned but we got a great B & B in Ashland as well.  The only bad part for you is that it’s not open to the public.  🙂  Hubby’s Dad and Wife made us feel like we were at a B&B.  If they ever open for business we will let you know.  They have a beautiful house, that my father-in-law built, on the hill so you would love it!  And guess what my hubby lived there most of his life!

Anyways, I thought I would give you some recommendations of places and things to do while there.  Since we lived there, and hubby grew up there, you can bet these are great places:

– Science Works in Ashland is a lot of fun.  It’s not a big city Science Center, but I think it does a great job and has different themes each time we have gone.

– The Breadboard Restaurant is yummy.  It’s been a favorite of mine for years!  They are open for  breakfast and lunch so be sure to stop on by.

– Four and Twenty Blackbirds Bakery.  YUMMY!!!!  And please try Marionberry!!!

–Paddington Station is a terrific shop in downtown Ashland.  They have everything from kitchen to clothing items and a lot in-between.  It’s a terrific shop!

– All of downtown Ashland is fun to walk around.  It is a little on the hippie side but fun.

– Lithia Parkis a beautiful park just up from downtown Ashland.  You can see the ducks, have a picnic, hike, take the kids to pay in the creek or the playground, and in the winter ice skate.  Really there is too much to mention. 

– Big Town Hero is a nice sandwich shop.  The bread is fresh baked and it’s all ready to be taken to the park for a picnic like we did.

I could go on and on in regards to Southern Oregon.  So…there will be more to come!

Have a “BEAUTIFUL” day!

 

Let’s go shopping!

I do love to shop.  So we have to go shopping for the A-Z tips.  I would love to focus on non-essential items however as grocery prices increase I think a few grocery tips may help.  Please feel free to add your own as I know many of you have terrific tips yourself.  I want to learn from them.

Let’s go shopping:

• At the store shop the perimeter.  All the sale items will be stocked there.  And you will cover fresh veggies and fruit which is more healthy then processed foods.
• Only purchase fruits and veggies that are in season. 
• Try making your own salad dressings, seasoning mixes, marinades, and biscuit mixes.  They are fairly easy to do and will save you $$$$$.
• Compare price per unit when buying in bulk.  You may not be saving money with some items.
• Keep a list.  This is so true.  All those extras really add up.
• Buy spices in bulk.  You don’t need as much of some spices and spices don’t stay fresh forever.
• Stay away from prepared foods.  They are very expensive.
• Decide if you are a coupon person or not.  If you are not, then accept it and don’t hang on to them and feel defeated.  Instead, shop store brands and use other tips.  If you are then get a good system for using them.  There are also subscription type services like the www.thegrocerygame.com that might work for you. 
• Find lower priced cuts of meat and find recipes on ways to cook them instead.
• Keep a budget for food.
• Eat less meat.
• In most cases, toiletry items are more expensive at your grocery store.
• Have you shopped at a 99 cent store lately?  Mine has veggies and fruit.  I also got a beautiful jar of mixed mushrooms (that looked like something you would get in a gift basket, for –you guessed it–99 cents!
• Use up stale bread to make your own breadcrumbs of croutons.  Easy to do and saves $$
• Know when the sales are for your store.  And you may want to find out when they stock so they are not out of the items when you go.
• Start with a menu and then shop.
• Make your own cleaning products will save a bundle!!!  The companies that produce that stuff is making a ton of $$ as we need very few cleaners yet most households are full of buckets of different cleaners.
• Watch the register.  Make sure someone unloads the cart and you watch the register.  If you are alone, look over the receipt before you leave.
• AND NEVER GO TO THE STORE HUNGRY!

Don’t forget to share your tips.

Contest: Link any of my A-Z tips on your blog and let me know and I will enter you in my contest to win some lovely prozes.  Check out my post- Wanna now what you are playing for? to see them.
Have a “Cost-Effective” Day!

Debbie aka The Real World Martha(S)

 

“B”

B

The “B” tip for the day will be for BEAUTY. 

Take time for a Mom Spa Night.  Either do by yourself or with some friends.

Gather up –

• A Robe (if you own one)
• Slippers
• Pitcher of Water with Lemon Slices (clean the skin of the lemon first) and maybe some Tea
• Some Light Food such as Fruit, Veggies, Bread/Crackers, and Cheese
• Soft Music
• Candles or Soften the lights
• A Journal (if alone) and make sure to write down 10 of your Blessings if with some friends have everyone go around the room to give their list of blessings
• Powdered Milk or 5 tea bags for a nice bath (if it’s just you)
• Something to soak your feet in
• Make a homemade beauty product to try (I have a couple of recipes below that you can try)
• Items for a manicure or pedicure
• Maybe a Chick Flick
• Lotion (get your favorite)

Fresh Face Cleanser

1 Tbsp Plain or Vanilla Yogurt

3/4 c Lemon Juice

Mix together and ally to face.  Rinse with warm water

Hand Softner

Wash hands in warm water.

1 Tbsp Honey

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

Massage into hands.  Cover hands with saran wrap, baggies, or cotton gloves for 30 min.

It may seem like this is bigger than just a tip but the point is to take time for yourself.  Our Mom job require us to be refreshed and feeling good about ourselves.  So plan your day now and put it on the calendar!  That’s an order 🙂

DON’T FORGET – If you ping or link back to my post on your blog (any tip A-Z) you will enter for a chance to win in my first contest.  If you don’t have a blog, leave a comment and let me know that you don’t have a blog and I will put you in the running.

Have a “Beautiful” Day

 

Unbeatable Banana Bread

This is my favorite banana bread recipe ever.  I thought I would put it out there as some of us do like to give food as gifts.

ENJOY!

                                                                    

(from: http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50117)

s Unbeatable Banana Bread s

Ingredients 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup Unsalted butter (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened 1 cup sugar 2 eggs, at room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 medium-large very ripe bananas (1 cup mashed) 1/2 cup sour cream
Instructions Step 1 Heat the oven to 325°. Line a 5- by 9-inch loaf pan, preferably one with a light interior, with enough waxed paper to drape over the long sides. This will make the baked bread a cinch to remove and the pan easy to clean. Set the pan aside.Step 2 Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl. In a large bowl, cream the butter using an electric mixer. Gradually add the sugar, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Next, add the vanilla extract and blend briefly. Set both bowls aside. Step 3 Peel the bananas and place them in a separate bowl. Mash them with a fork or a potato masher and measure out 1 cup. Add the sour cream and stir to blend. Set the bowl aside. Step 4 Using a wooden spoon, blend a third of the dry mixture into the butter-sugar mixture. Add the rest of the ingredients in this order, stirring well after each addition: half of the banana mixture, half of the remaining dry mixture, the rest of the banana mixture, the rest of the dry mixture. Next, add mix-ins if desired (see below). Step 5 Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spoon. Bake on the center oven rack until a tester inserted deep into the center of the bread comes out clean, about 70 to 75 minutes. Step 6 Transfer the bread to a cooling rack and cool it in the pan for about 20 minutes. Using the waxed paper, lift the bread from the pan and place it on the rack. Pull down the sides of the paper and allow the bread to cool thoroughly before slicing. Makes 10 or more servings.
For a light, quick bread, handle the batter gently, mixing it just enough to incorporate wet and dry ingredients. Overmixing strengthens the gluten, the protein in flour that gives yeast bread its chewy texture — which you don’t want in a quick bread. Finishing up with a wooden spoon helps ensure that the batter isn’t overmixed.