Simply Saving

Friendship Soup

Layer the ingredients below in a drinking jar and attach the following poem on the front and the recipe on the back.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup dry split peas
1/4 cup beef bouillon granules
1/4 cup pearl barley
1/4 cup dry lentils
1/4 cup dried onion flakes
2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
1/4 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
1/4 cup uncooked alphabet pasta

Poem:

Here’s a special mug of soup
That I’m sending your way
You can sip and enjoy it
Each and everyday

When you drink your soup
It will surely warm your heart
Just like our friendship has
From the very start

Recipe:

Additional Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
3 quarts water
1 can(28 oz)diced tomatoes

Remove macaroni from top of jar and set aside. In a large saucepan, brown beef.Add water, tomatoes & soup mix. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover & simmer for 45 min. Add macaroni, cover & simmer for 15 to 20 or until tender. Yield: 15 servings

Encourage Mints Jar

Fill a decorated jar with mints and attach this poem -
When you have a bit of doubt
And need some confidence
Just put your hand inside the jar
And take out encourage-mints.

Valentine gifts don’t have to cost a lot! Here’s a bunch of Valentine’s ideas that will keep you under budget be a hit with the lucky person who gets it!

Scroll down for some great deals on
Valentine stationary and other items used in these projects.

Sweet Message Of Love
Buy red or pink poster board or oak tag. Write out the message (or think up your own!) and attach each candy bar (in the original wrapper) in place of the words. A little dab of hot glue will do the trick.
My dearest SUGAR BABY,
I PROMISE this card will bring a SNICKER as you read my message.I am not playing a TWIX on you. You are my BIT-O-HONEY. I can always count on you in a CRUNCH, and I will always TREASURE you. Our GOOD & PLENTY life together is like 100 GRAND on PAYDAY! I love you to PIECES and wish you MOUNDS of ALMOND JOY on this Valentines day! Many HUGS & KISSES.
NOW& LATER,
(sign your name)

A Personal Valentine’s Day
If you’re part of a couple, pay attention to little things your partner talks, dreams and wishes for. Listen for small, doable things that can make a big difference. You can also subtly question them about what he/she pictures as the perfect Valentine’s Day. Now take the information you have gathered and make it into a perfect day for him or her. If you’re single create your perfect Valentine’s Day for yourself. Love yourself that much.

The Ultimate Love Letter
Spend a few days jotting down notes about your partner; things you love about them, how they make you feel, what they mean to you, etc. Over those few days, get in touch with just how much you love them. Use your notes to write the best love letter or poem you’ve ever written. If this is your first – set the bar high! Buy a single red rose to go with it. Over dinner or a drink, hand them the rose and read your letter or poem out loud to them. You might need some tissues nearby!

Valentine’s Day Survival Kit
On a pretty piece of paper, write out the following: 
Reminders of why I love you:
Sweet Escapes- for those times we spend alone
Candle- you are the light of my life
Matches- we are a perfect match
Peppermint Patty- for the cool sensations you give me
Stick of gum- for all the times you’ve stuck by me
Charmin Tissue- you are too irresistible NOT to squeeze
Mounds- for the mounds of love I feel for you….
Hugs and Kisses- (sign your name)
Gather up the items and place them in a jar, bag or basket, with the card.

Valentine’s Day Survival Kit II
On a piece of pretty paper, write out the following, filling in the blanks as best describes your relationship to the recipient.
Heart – to remind you that there’s no one like a (daughter, mother, son, friend, etc) to fill ones heart with love.
Smiley Face – to remind you to always share your smile with others.
Ribbon –  to let you know our (friendship, marriage, etc) is a special gift, tied with ribbons of love.
Mint – You are “Worth A Mint’ to so many People.
Angel – To watch over you each day.
Stars – To remind you to “Reach for the stars”
Rubber Band – To give you the extra stretch and flexibility to meet the demands of each day.
Kiss – to remind you that “THAT I LOVE YOU”
Flower – to let you know that if (daughters, fathers, sons, etc) were flowers, I’d pick you.
Penny – to make sure you’re never broke.
Gather up all the items and neatly place in a basket along with the note.

Valentine Note Card Special Valentine’s Day edition comes with one card and one envelope. Price: $3.25

Valentine Note Cards A set of love letters, ready to be mailed to your love ones. A set of five beautifully designed cards that be used to express your love. Price: $16.97

Hearts Note Cube Bring love into your home or office with this note cube artwork full of many colored hearts. The decorative top sheet provides an attractive presentation for gifts, and tears off to reveal the blank pages of the notecube. Printed on 100% recycled post-consumer fiber. Price: $11.95

Valentine 12×12 Cardstock Pack (80lb) This cardstock is premium quality cardstock perfect for scrapbooking; card making and many other paper crafts. Price: $17.34

4-Inch Flameless Pillar Candle This Mark Feldstein & Associates candle comes with a timer and gift box. Price: $7.50

Smiley Face Button This professionally crafted smiley face button is 1.25 inches in diameter. Price: $0.95

Littlest Angel Figurine A plump-cheeked cherub settles upon her rose-petal perch, tiny wings beating as she shares the beauty of a fresh-picked tulip with her feathered companion. Polystone. 2 3/4″ x 3″ x 4″ high. Price: $3.11

There are three thrift stores near my house that I visit frequently (one of which I also donate items to) and I usually find some good deals. Here’s a few things from one of the last times my youngest daughter and I went.

These four sundae glasses we’re $1 each. Aren’t they great? My family loves them!

This Rubbermaid chip and dip tray and cover was only two bucks and is in excellent condition. We use containers like this all the time and when we can’t used it for food anymore, we’ll find another use for it, probably for storing craft supplies.

These banana split dishes were a $1 each and at first I only bought three because I didn’t see the other one. When I went back another day to donate some items, I spotted it. Needless to say, between the sundae glasses and these, we’ve been having a lot of ice cream lately. lol

I love shopping at thrift stores and flea markets because honestly, you never know what you’ll find. It’s like a tresaue hunt. Like the snowman dishes I bought at a nearby flea market.

This post is part of Frugal Friday and Second Time Around.

Some of you may remember the snowman dishes I posted about. I bought the whole set for five bucks at a flea market. We used them for the first time over Christmas week and I wanted to share some pictures.

This post is part of Thrifty Thursday and Tablescape Thursday.