Being Creative is My Passion

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Happy Hour With Your Gay Husband

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :
Variety is the Spice Of Life
2 Fantastic Cocktails for Summer
Happy Hour With Your Gay Husband
Here are 2 great drinks that are easy to make and very refreshing for the hot summer months. I guess they would be good in the winter as well...just sit in front of the heater and drink up.

A Kiwi in Tennessee
1/2 kiwifruit, peeled
2 parts Jack Daniel's
1 part kiwifruit schnapps
1 part fresh lemon juice
ice cubes
lemonade, to top
kiwi slices, to decorate
Muddle the kiwifruit in a cocktail shaker, then add the Jack Daniel's, schnapps, and lemon juice. Add some ice cubes and shake well. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice cubes. Stir and top up with lemonade. Decorate with kiwifruit slices.

Lynchburg Lemonade
ice cubes
 1 1/2 parts Jack Daniel's
1 part Cointreau
 1part fresh lemonade juice
lemonade, to top up
lemon slices, to decorate
Put some ice cubes with the Jack Daniel's, cointreau, and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker and shake well. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice cubes. Top up with lemonade and stir. Decorate with lemon slices.

I hope you take the time [ at least 1 hour, a happy one at that] and enjoy these cocktails either alone with some great music playing or with friends and family.
Bottoms Up!
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Weekly Grocery Bargains

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :
Shop with a Friend and Buy in Bulk

Memorial Day Savings


 Weekly Grocery Bargains
I know it isn't always possible to shopping with a friend but when you can...you should. Take a trip together and buy in bulk and split everything. This will help with the initial hit on your wallet as well as reducing waste of perishable items. Just make sure to check unit pricing when buying in bulk to be certain that is really is a lower price. Check out all the great savings in this weeks ads...prices are good til 06-14-2011.

Always Great Savings

Albertsons has a sale on Meats this week. The prices are good...but not great.The nice thing is they have a wide selection of products across the board that are on sale. You do not need a rewards card to receive discounts.
Print Albertsons Coupons here.






boneless skinless chicken breast - $1.69lb
beef brisket - $1.99lb
pork spare ribs - $1.99lb
large raw shrimp - $5.99lb 31/40 count
TX yellow corn - 5 for $2
broccoli crowns - $1.29lb
seedless grapes - $1.99lb

Honest to Goodness Savings

 Once again Aldi has kept to it's reputation for no frills and great deals. Their gardening merchandise just hit the stores and they have some really good items. Don't forget to stop by Aldi for your staple like milk and eggs. Who knows maybe you will leave there with tree or a stainless steel gas grill. Today I even saw a 12 foot pool and a trampoline. I'm not kidding. Don't forget a quarter for your basket, you will get it back when you return your cart.
Print Aldi Ad here.







Fresh-Juicy-Tasty

Make sure to check out the produce while you are their. They have a very diverse selection.They also carry a huge selection of Hispanic food, spices and baked items. You can even get frog legs here. You do not need a rewards card to receive discounts. Print Fiesta Ad here.








NY strip steaks - $3.99lb
chicken breast - quarters - .99lb
yellow corn - 4 for $1
roma tomatoes - .59lb
sweet peaches - .99lb
Haggen Dazs ice cream 2 for 45
Tide - $5.99 ea 50oz limit 1
sweet mangos - 3 for $1
red grapes - $1.29lb
watermelons - $3.88ea
large bay scallops - $3.99lb

Low Prices Plus More ...

I really like Kroger and the usually have the good deals. Make sure to check out their seasonal items. They have a wide selection and they are always going on sale. You will need a rewards card to receive discounts. Print Kroger Coupons here.







sirloin steaks - $2.99lb
cherries - $2.88lb
ground beef - $2.99lb 93% lean
blackberries - 10 for $10 6oz packs
Kroger butter - $2.77ea
Kroger cheese - $2.99 ea 16oz
Yoplait yogurt - 10 for $5
zucchini or yellow squash - 10 for $10

Serious Food ... Silly Prices



WINNER of the week just for the amazing price on the Chicken Sausage. Sunflower farmers Market is my personal favorite place to shop. I still only buy when the are having sales but the environment is great. I just had some basil chicken sausage with pasta the other night for dinner. They make the sausage at the store. It is always fresh and yummy. You do not need a reward card to receive discounts. Don't forget some table wine as low as $3.33 a bottle. It is good.
Print Sunflower Ad here.

seedless grapes - .59lb
bell peppers, broccoli bunches or red potatoes - .77lb
chicken sausage - $1.99 lb [stop what you are doing and buy some to freeze]
cantaloupes - .77lb
red or green leaf lettuce - .77ea
pork loin chops - $2.99lb


Ingredients for Life.

  Tom Thumb labels their food with colored tags indication it nutrition level such as organic or gluten free. You do need a rewards card to receive discounts. Print Tom Thumb Coupons here.





beef back ribs - .99lb [freeze and BBQ]
boneless skinless chicken breasts - $1.99lb
red seedless grapes - $1.28lb
Vidalla sweet onions - .50lb
country style ribs - $1.99lb

Here are some additional LINKS for a store that might be in your area. Let me know if there is a store you would like me to add.
Safeway - HEB - Trader Joes - Jewel - Raleys - Ralphs - Vons
Happy Shopping and Saving.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Friday, June 3, 2011

Fashion Friday: Bon Voyage Attire

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day:
Stripe it Up With Stripes
Sperry Topsider
Fashion Friday : Bon Voyage Attire  Bon Voyage....As the summer heat continues to simmer, I find myself thinking of ways I would enjoy this smoldering heat...Maybe if I was on a cruise ship sailing the Mediterranean coast.With that though in my mind, I decided my fashion choice while sailing the Mediterranean coast would be STRIPES...So put on your Sperry Top Siders and lets set sail.

Michael Bastian
While I drift away into my Mediterranean dream, I first begin to think of ways to simply introduce strips into my wardrobe. The influence of this trend does not have to look bold. Stripes can be seen in many ways, the simple contrast trim on a short or a light knit stripe in a zip up jacket. This is look by Michael Bastian is a favorite for me.








Michael Bastian
Stripes can bring attention....Don"t think that you won"t turn heads while wearing stripes. I like this look from Michael Bastian Spring 2011 collection  it brings both the urban Man and the surfer Dude together to create a look seen on the streets today.









Jill Sander
Wearing stripes takes confidence. I found this fantastic dress from the Jill Sanders Spring 2011 collection. The many years that I have been dressing and working with women, the common call out is that women prefer that the stripes are vertical in design. The truth about it is that it does elongate the body, it can create an illusion of slimness, however the proportion of length is critical.








Jill Sander
Horizontal stripes are often avoided.This look from Jill Sander however is the perfect choice for that special comfort dress while lounging on the Captains deck or while consuming the delicacies from the midnight chocolate buffet. All jokes aside, the dress is a statement. It's the simplicity of shape with a slimmer bodice and fuller skirt, this dress looks both bold and soft.








Stripes,Stripes, and more Stripes....This summer join me in this Mediterranean dream.Take a chance and express yourself this summer in stripes.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husbands Husband

Ain't a Thing But a Chicken Wing

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :
Don't Forget The Dipping Sauces
Chicken Wings
Ain't a Thing But a Chicken Wing
We were having some friends over for a pot luck so I decided to make some chicken wings. They are easy to eat when you are mixing at a party or sitting at a table, either way they are GOOD. The best way to cook wings is to deep fry them. I find they tend to fall apart or stick when baking or BBQing. Here is what I did.
COST - $10 for 6-8 people including dipping sauces
TIME - 30 minutes including cooking time
DIFFICULTY - 2 on a scale of 1-5
Washing Wings
I bought these wings for .77lb. They were fresh and not cut. The first thing to do is to wash/rinse the wings under cool water. Let them drain then dry each one off with paper towels. This will make them have a crispy skin when frying. If not there will be water in the oil and it will splatter and steam the wings. Not a good combo.






Cutting Wings
When cutting the wings into sections make sure to start with a SHARP knife. Just go between the joints and cut. This gets easier after you do the first few.  I made 40 wing sections without using the end segment. I just tossed that piece.







Seasoning Wings
I made a rub for the wings, it is super easy and really adds a burst of flavor.
1 Tbsp each of garlic and Salt and Flour
1 tsp each of pepper, onion powder, paprika
mix ingredients together and sift on the wings. Let them rest for at least 20 minutes. You can do this the night before. This is for 40 pieces.





Frying Wings
Add 4" of oil to a large stock pot and heat on medium high til it reaches 350 degrees. I did 7 at a time for 7 minutes and they turned out perfectly. You will know they are done because they will float. Let drain on paper towel and serve. I made 40 wind sections and served them with sides of sauce. It is fun to have a few so your guests can decide what they want. I put out Ranch, Buffalo, Sweet Teriyaki, and BBQ sauce.



This get together was so much fun and easy to serve. The wings were delicious and had a nice crisp skin.
Let me know how they turn out for you. Put these out with some ice cold beer and stand back as your guests devourer them. I hope you enjoy these as much as we did.

Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Happy Hour with Your Gay Husband

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :
Friends Moving ? - Drink a Martini

Vodkatini
Happy Hour with Your Gay Husband
I found out today that our really good friends are moving to Seattle in 3 weeks. I just wanted to scream but I wish them well instead and cried. This did inspire a drink for them at their going away/anniversary party. They have been together for 17 years so we made this drink for the Party and called it the 17tini to commemorate the event.
17tini
1/4 part vermouth
3 parts - vodka
1 green olive or lemon zest twist
Swirl the vermouth around the chilled martini glass, then pour in the vodka. Finish by adding the olive or lemon zest twist.

This is just like them...Strong, Simple and Tart. I will miss you both.
Bottoms Up !
Your Gay Husband

Monday, May 30, 2011

Fabulous Custom Chotchkies for Less

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :
Make it Your Own - Paint it !
Frog Budah
Fabulous Custom Chotchkies for Less
I have said it before and I will say it again...go buy some spray paint in your favorite color. In this case I used white. I like to have a majority of white with splashes of color added. I only paid $4.99 for this Budah Frog. It made me smile, and for me that is all I need to close the sale. Now every time I look at it I smile. How nice is that especially for $4.99. I had the same experience withe the 3 sided Laughing Budah Head. I only paid .99 for it. I used a $1.99 can of white spray paint and I still have enough left over for my next project.
Before Painting
After Painting












It really helps to have a creative mind to find those Chotchkies that you can make fabulous just by giving them some love and attention. They don'y always look so great to begin with.This one was so little kid looking with funny flowers painted all over it. I saw it's beauty and new how great it could look in or house. I only paid $4.49 for this Snail.
Before Painting
After Painting














Laughing Budah Head
See how a fabulous Chotchkie can really make you eye move from one spot to another. I like having the pyramid shade with only 2 colors and something organic. All these objects are completely different but work well together because of the color and shapes.









I hope this inspires you to always be on the hunt. Whether it is at the $1 store, a yard sale  or even something you have in the Attic, you own it to yourself to MAKE IT FABULOUS. Have fun being creative..and remember it doesn't take alot of money to make it look like it did.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Steak Dinner and Steak Salad from Leftovers

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :
Always Make Enough for Leftovers
Ribeye Steak Dinner
Steak Dinner and Steak Salad with Leftovers
Sometimes I get a craving for a good steak, especially when it is a ribeye cooked on the grill. There is just something that the grill does to the meat. I just seasoned it with salt, pepper,garlic powder and a drizzle of Balsamic vinegar. I season it about 30 minutes; cover with foil and let come to room temperature before putting on the grill. I don't always want the whole steak and double starch dinner [as good as they are]. Sometimes I just want a good steak with fruit salad and a light cocktail. I made a 3 ingredient fruit salad using fresh red grapes, strawberries and cantaloupe.
Mango Cocktail
The cocktail is 2 part mango juice and 1 part vodka with a squeeze of lime. No matter if I am alone or with others, I enjoy dining with fresh flowers. You can do it without costing much. I bought 5 stems for $4.99 at the grocery store and put them in bud vases.








Steak Salad
I always buy my meats in family packs. These steaks came 3 to pack. I will cook the extra steak to use for a Salad later in the week. A couple of days later I made this salad for us while we were gardening.
I made it with romaine lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, onions, avocados, Parmesan cheese and croutons. It is topped with a creamy peppercorn dressing and fresh cracked black pepper [ use your favorite]. See it really pays off in more than one way to buy those family packs even if it is just the 2 you.




I hope this inspires you to make enough so you can have leftovers. Get creative and see what you can come up with.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband