Monday, April 11, 2011

Credit the Sausage


Credit buying is much like being drunk. The buzz happens immediately and gives you a lift.... The hangover comes the day after.
 ~Joyce Brothers

Frustration.  That is what I'm feeling.  Frustration with myself.  First, I'm frustrated with myself because I can't seem to put a stop to spending.  No, I haven't broken my "no fabric for a month" promise.  I have been good about that.  But I have been buying sewing tools, patterns, books, magazine subscriptions; all things I really don't need.  Well, I really did need the 12" square ruler.  I can't believe I've gone this long without it.  Okay, back to frustration and spending.  I keep telling myself "just this one last purchase" and that lasts until..... So, I think I have come up with a solution.  I'm collecting my credit cards, wrapping them all up in a rubber band and handing them to my DH with the following instructions:  Do NOT give me any of my credit cards unless I can come up with an extremely good reason as to why I need to buy a certain item.  And, why can't I wait until I can afford to use my debit card (same as paying cash, you know) to buy said item.  So, there.  It has been decided and has been executed. 
=============================

PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Credit Cards

Many consider credit cards and their use as a recent trend that took place during the late 20th century, but the truth is that credit cards have been around longer than most people think. Unless you have been living under a rock or amidst the Amazon rain forest for the past hundred years without any access to modern civilization, we all know what credit cards are used for. A credit card is method of selling and buying goods without having to deal with cash.  According to researchers, credit cards have been around since the 1920's in the United States when individual firms such as oil companies and hotel chains began issuing them to customers. However, some say that credit card use began as far back as the 1890's in Europe. Researchers also say that credit cards back in those days were not made of plastic but most probably from metal coins, metal plates, celluloid, metal, fiber or paper.  In 1946, John Biggins of the Flatbush National Bank of Brooklyn in New York invented the first bank credit card. Biggins invented the "Charge-it" program between bank customers and local merchants where merchants deposited sales slips in the bank after which the bank billed the customer.  In 1958, American Express issued their first credit card and the Bank of America issued Visa later in 1958. By the early 1960's, companies offered credit cards to traveling salesman and promoted them as time saving device and a few years down the road, credit cards became a huge sensation. 
Don't get me wrong, I think the credit card is a wonderful thing.  I just need to be away from mine for awhile. 

===============================

BLOCK FINISHED

Friday I finished the first block of the Secrets of Life wall hanging. 

 The embroidery was easy to do, just a plain backstitch.  I'm starting to get a handle on the machine embroidery.  I wonder why it took me so long to give this technique a try?

================================

SOMETHING OTHER THAN CRAFTS

Since I wasn't very productive on Friday, well, at least there was nothing more to photograph, I would like to share a recipe I tried last week.  It's easy (which are the best kind) and tasty too (even better!).

ITALIAN SAUSAGE, PEPPERS, AND ONIONS

Ingredients
6 (4 ounce) links sweet Italian sausage
2 tablespoons butter
1 yellow onion, sliced
1/2 red onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 large red bell peppers, sliced
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 cup white wine







I forgot to include the sausage in the photo, but believe me they were there - lol!







Directions
1.  Place the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, and brown on all sides. Remove from skillet and slice.
2.  Melt butter in the skillet. Stir in the yellow onion, red onion, and garlic, and cook 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in the bell pepper. Season with basil and oregano. Stir in the white wine. Combine to cook and stir until peppers and onions are tender.
3.  Return sausage slices to skillet with the vegetables. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 15 minutes, or until sausage is heated through.

Voila!  Excellent!!

Personal Notes:
* The recipe called for 1 red and 1 green bell pepper.  I find green bell peppers bitter so used to red.
* Reheats well
* The recipe suggests fro extra kick to try using half sweet sausage and half hot sausage - I think I might try that next time around.

=============================

TODAY'S GOAL

Well, Friday I didn't get the sashing a border cut out for my Layer Cake quilt.  I forgot I hadn't washed the fabric.  So today's goal will be the same as Friday's...to cut out the sashing and borders.  Maybe I can even start the assembly process.

=============================
GIVEAWAYS

McCalls Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win a fabulous fat quarter pack from Moda’s Authentic collection.  Just leave a comment on the FB page between now and May 31st.

Leona's Quilting Adventure is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Dream Landscapes by Rose Hughes, a package of Steam a Seam 2, one copy each of Harriet Hargrave's Pocket Guides to Choosing Batting and Caring for Fabric and Quilts, and a Beautiful Fat Roll of 20, 5" X 42" Strips of Flutter Fabric by Windham Fabrics.  This giveaway ends Friday, April 22, at midnight EST.

Jo's Country Junction is having a giveaway.  You could win a Lapel Stick.  Three winners will be selected on Tuesday, April 12.

Two Hippos is having a giveaway.  You could win some Marimekko fabric remnants.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, April 13, around 6:00 pm.

Want It, Need It, Quilt is having an April giveaway.  You could win 12 FQ's of Gypsy by Westminister Fabrics.  This giveaway will run until the end of April.

Craftbuds is having a giveaway.  You could win three yards of custom made bias tape made with Happy Dots in Apricot fabric from Amy Butler’s Midwest Modern Line.  This giveaway ends Thursday, April 14, at midnight EST.

There are only a few hours left to be able to enter my 200th Post Celebration Giveaway.  If you haven't enter  to win the $25.00 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop then you better do it NOW!!

=================================

FINAL THOUGHT

We all have final thoughts throughout the day.  A final thought might be at the end of a meal.  "Was that a recipe worth repeating?"  We have final thoughts when we complete a project.  "Am I happy with the outcome?"  And others that you may not think of as final thoughts....."I'm sure glad I found that"....."Man, am I ever tired after that shopping trip"......"The dogs are finally washed"....."I really enjoyed that book";  just to give a few examples.  And, of course, our final thought of the day as we lay our head down upon our pillows. "Today was a great day".  Is there a better final thought than that?

No matter where you go or what you do, you live your entire life within the confines of your head.
~Terry Josephson


May your Monday be merry and marvelous!

31 comments:

Quiet Quilter said...

Good luck on the c.c. saga. Don't get into any arguments with your DH...

Sarah Craig said...

Good for you! That's really tough to do, I know! There's so many things out there that want us to "need" them..... We've kind of lost the art of "making-do"! Have a great week!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for blogging about my giveaway! I know that it may sound difficult to put your credit cards away, but it is for the best. I don't have any credit cards at all! If I don't have the cash, I just don't buy things...Sometimes it's difficult, but it's ok...Regards,
Leona

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I no longer own any credit cards (identiy theft years ago) and so glad that head ache is over. Cash and making do - even the barter system has been used. The end of my day is usually mid-day for 2hrs. and then off again. If I revolve around the confines of my head - I think I am lost!

WoolenSails said...

I have one card for me and only use it for important things, lol. I like being able to order online with it and for trips, but for general spending, I use cash. I am a cash person, that way, I a certain amount and it makes me think twice before I spend. But, for major cards and things, we have way too much and hate that.

Debbie

Pat said...

I don't know where I'd be without my credit card. I have two but only use one. (and I have the number memorized!) I do most of my shopping online but I never make a purchase I can't afford to pay off that month. Other than that I use my debit card. I seldom use cash, although I always carry some. I spend way too much time 'window shopping' online and am constantly reminding myself that I really don't 'need' that item. It's a fine line.

Cheryl said...

Hope your strategy works with the credit cards. I keep a separate card for my material obsession so that the statement each month helps me realize what I am spending and then helps me curb it!

Needled Mom said...

You are so disciplined! I think credit cards should be used only if you can pasy them off each month unless it is an emergency. The fee they charge in interest is out of this world.

I can remember going to the grocery store for my parents and having the charge put on their account. They then got the bill at the end of the month. Can you tell I grew up in a small town?

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Query. The recipe looks yummy. How many does it feed? I cook for our church's Wed. night meals and this looks like it would be a great thing to try.

Scrappy quilter said...

Don't own a cc, haven't for years. We pay cash for everything or don't buy it. Hope your plan works for you. I've never had a 12 inch square ruler however I have a 15 inch one and it's the ruler I use the most. Hugs

dq said...

Wow, a wealth of info as usual. I enjoy your blog advice and I will try your recipe.

As for the credit cards, I don't have a single one. If I can't pay cash for something then I don't buy it even if it is necessity such as milk. I just wait unil payday. I think you've taken a good step in the right direction. Staying out of debt is so peaceful.

Megan Harmeyer said...

That recipe looks good!! I'll have to add that to my "must try" recipe list. I'm with you on the whole "do I really need that" buying thing - I haven't been buying as much polish lately because I just don't "need" it. Oh, sure...I WANT it, but I don't need it!

Lynda said...

I had to chuckle at your "promise" not to keep spending and the block you finished that says "keep your promises". Funny! It sure turned out cute. I too enjoy machine applique. I just don't have the skills or the desire to do it by hand.

Vickie said...

I love your block! Your Italian Sausage looks great! I keep promising myself the same thing! So far I have done pretty good! The bad thing is when I want to order something and I don't then I eat a Hostess Ding Dong! Probably not the right decision but what's a girl to do? At least it's chocolate!
Thanks for another great post!
PS...Thanks so much for sharing the giveaways! You're so kind!

Emily Malsam said...

I love the credit buying quote, so very, very true!

I'd give my husband my CC to hide from me, but then that'd give him access to it and he's much worse than me lol

Stitched With Prayer said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Stitched With Prayer said...

Linda, I think your solution to spending is a very, very good one. We got rid of our credit cards years ago after paying for Christmas for 8 months when our girls were little. We cut them up and vowed to buy only the things we had the $$ for. That was 40 years ago and we have lived that way since. It isn't always easy, but we stick to it. Good luck with your goal!!! Hugs...

Nancy said...

Linda,

Good luck with that. I have the same problem but keep telling myself I'm investing in fabric. It is going up in price!

Deborah in Atlanta said...

Just so you and dear hubby don't get into a fuss, how about just sending me those credit cards? I'll watch them closely for you. Ha-Ha. I read all the comments you had left, and like 99% of them, I also never believed in credit cards. But - what a time I had when I recently tried to purchase a house. I had lived in Europe for 7 years and during that time, only used a debit card. When I came back to the US, the banks didn't want to even discuss ahome loan with me because I had no "credit history". I finally got a credit card, and I use it to fill the car up with gas, and pay it off each month before the bill comes. Isn't it stupid that we have to "borrow" money with a charge card each month in order to prove we're a good credit risk?

Raewyn said...

I like your secrets of life block - which reminds me, I have the pattern hidden away somewhere!!Good luck with your credit card dilemma and solution. I love your final quote; how true it is.

Joanna said...

Not buying things is so difficult in our way of life. Something I do when I just want to go out is to go to the mall; not the best place for careful spending or no spending at all. I think I'd have separation anxiety if I put away my credit cards. Hope it works for you:) Your block is very nice. Chourico and peppers is very popular here and very delicious.

Impera Magna said...

Smart move to remove the CC temptation for a while... I did that a number of years ago and it helped tremendously. Never went back to using the CCs the same way again....

Robin (RsIslandCrafts) said...

Hubby and I know we would get in too much trouble if we had any credit cards. I think we have done very well without having any. I hope you do very well without having them in your possession.

We grew up eating sausage and peppers almost weekly. It's a comfort food for me now.

Becky said...

Hope your Monday was marvelous! So enjoy your posts!

Maria McCabe said...

Definitely try 1/2 hot and 1/2 sweet next time - I love it that way and the hot tend to be slightly red so they will stand out. I have to say that you have one of my favorite blogs to visit each day..Thank you for always being a bright spot.
Maria

Gene Black said...

Good luck with your resolve. I know exactly what you mean. See you got me wanting a 12 inch ruler. Then I thought "wait a minute - I have a 12 1/2" ruler with an 8 1/2" opening in the center.
I use the 6 1/2" by 24" ruler for most things though.

Anonymous said...

What an interesting post! Love the looks of that recipe...how many does it serve? We, too, try to limit ourselves to what we have cash on hand for; sometimes you need to fill the car or pay a doctor bill that was unexpected, tho. Hope you are blessed with peaceful thoughts tonight.
Jacque in SC
quiltnsrep(at)yahoo(dot)com

corina said...

Congrats on curbing the cards. All day I was thinking I have to get rid of stuff, we have too much. The next instant I found myself at the store with a "must have" cast iron casserole dish and a picture. Well, I put it all back and said that's enough! You were my inspiration! I had read your blog earlier today and it sprung to mind while waiting in the lineup!

Melanie said...

In the movie Confessions of a Shopoholic, a woman freezes her credit cards in blocks of ice and keeps them in her freezer. If you have not seen that movie, it is worth renting. My husband and I stay away from credit cards because we are only in our 20s and have already ruined our credit with credit cards, so we stick with cash. I pray you are successful!

Cheryll said...

Finally got caught up on my reading Linda... enjoyed every word too! .. but I'm off for a coffee! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi. I wanted to drop you a fast word to specific my thanks.
Ive been following your blog for a month or so and have picked up a ton of excellent data and enjoyed the method youve structured your site.
I am trying to run my very own weblog nonetheless I feel its too normal and I must concentrate on quite a lot of smaller topics.
Being all issues to all of us just isn't all that its cracked as much as be

Here is my page ... tips to get pregnant

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...