Candace went to Chicago and picked up this 3 tier rice box as a gift for me. I’ve been wanting one for ages! Michael pointed out that I already pack lunches that are way too big, but this will be perfect for camping, cookouts and picnics.

Thank you, Candace, for being such a good friend.

I am the coupon queen!

W started the day with toast, eggs and corned beef hash. We spent the remainder of our day staring into the white-hot ashes that still smoldered in our fire ring.

After goofing around in the playground and gathering more wild onion…

…We went back to our real lives.

We hit the links for a round of mini-golf.

I made a hole in one. Is Professional Ladies Mini-Golfer a viable career option?

For lunch: brats and dogs made on our nifty campstove.

Michael found a quarter while we were walking and I found another in our campsite. Score!

A customer with an evil bent gave me the idea to roast Peeps instead of marshmallows.

Mu-ha-ha-ha!

Camping is all about making do with what you have. I needed to cook two things in one small skillet. So I made a tiny pan insert with foil. Viola! Green beans simultaneously, but separately cooking with mushrooms and wild onion.

Michael grilled the steak and I made the (instant) garlic mashed potatoes.

As we sat in front of the fire eating our sumptuous meal, I remarked, “I bet no one else here is eating this well tonight.”

Michael and I wildcrafted two bags of wild onion while camping. How awesome to forage for food and eat it while camping? (Okay, I didn’t forage for the ground beef or cheese slices. I’m not that good!)

1 pound ground beef (I like 80/20)

2 ounces (1/2 4 ounce can) sliced mushrooms, drained

2 tablespoons wild onion, chopped (or green onion)

plenty of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

cheese slices (I recommend sharp cheddar), if desired, plus buns, condiments, etc.

Mix ground beef, mushrooms, wild onion, salt and pepper. Form into 3 or 4 thin patties. Salt and pepper the patties. Grill over a medium high flame for 3-5 minutes per side. Top with  cheese, if desired. Serve them up and nom, nom, nom.

Michael wanted to camp for his birthday. I used to be a KOA Kamper Kabin girl, but a few years ago I tried tent camping and found… it wasn’t too bad.

Here’s Michael saying “Are you really taking a picture of me putting up the tent?” Check out our hoopty Betsy in the background.

Since it was supposed to get down to 34*, we made a bed with about 1,000 blankets on it (thanks to Candace and Lavon).

It still seemed damn cold, so I stuffed the tent cover with newspaper. We had to run the space heater all night. So much for being green…

To keep warm we walked around the nearly deserted Kampground. This is a view from the hiking trail.

Michael contemplating his upcoming birthday. No, probably thinking about dinner…

A view  of the empty Kampground. There were 4 or 5 RVers and no other Kampers. We had the bathrooms and showers all to ourselves.

Campsite with electricity for 2 nights: $52

Three days in Crocs: priceless

Watching my husband trying to make a basket: more than priceless

After dinner and toasting our toes in front of the campfire, we retired to the tent to watch Equals 3 on YouTube. Oh, c’mon, it’s not like we were hiking the Smokies! We were in Granger for Pete’s sake!

This was only the second time I’ve gone camping in “cold” weather. Camping is always an adventure and who better to go on one with than my hubby and best friend, Michael.

The two bags of Lay’s are regularly $2.98, price matched to $1.99, minus two $1.00 off coupons, making them 99¢ each.

The two Lunchable subs are regularly $1.58 each, price matched to $1.00 each, minus two 75¢ off coupons, making them 25¢ each.

The fifteen Vitamin waters are regularly $1.18 each, price matched to 3/$1.00, minus five $1.00/2 coupons making them all FREE!

The four Sunkist tuna pouches are regularly $1.49 each, price matched to $1.oo each, minus 2 $1.00/2 coupons making them 50¢ each.

The mixed nuts are regularly $3.98, price matched to $1.99.

The Reese’s Dark Peanut Butter Cups are regularly 64¢, on sale  for 50¢, minus two 55¢ coupons making them negative 5¢ each.

My total should have been $37.88. I paid $6.27!

The yogurt was $1.19 a cup which is ridiculous. But minus $1.19 free item coupon and a 45¢ coupon made them 37¢ a cup. That’s higher than my goal price of 25¢ a cup, but I need to taste test them so I can review them. I was surprised when I checked out and the 45¢ coupon was doubled to 90¢, making each cup 14¢. I wanted to run back and use up the other nine coupons, but Michael was starving and ready to go home.

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter was regularly $2.39, on sale for 98¢, minus 75¢/2 coupons from the 3/28 Red Plum insert. This made them 60¢ each. I decided on the blend with olive oil since it seemed a bit healthier.

The Lunchable was not on my list. I missed out on the 3/21 coupons because I forgot to have Michael go get a Sunday paper. I was mad because there was a $1.00 off Lunchable sub coupon. As we were heading to the checkout, we walked through the frozen section. I bent down to pick up a coupon laying on the floor. Score! It was a Lunchables coupon! We backtracked to get the tiny ham and American sub. It was regularly $2.19, on sale for $1.49. I’d never pay full price for a 3 ounce sandwich, but 49¢ is a deal.

My total should have been $9.35. I paid $1.99!