Year of the Dragon Forever Stamp
I didn’t realize until today that the price of stamps increased this week. Apparently it now costs 45 cents instead of 44 cents to mail a letter. How is it that I missed this when I buy stamps about twice a month for my business?
I blame it on the Forever Stamps. Ever since the Post Office started selling those, I have lost track of the price of stamps because it no longer says how much they are on the front. I guess if I had been paying attention I would have stocked up on Forever Stamps last week.
It’s not like the USPS hid the fact that they were increasing prices. I found a press release right on their site from back in October. In addition to the price of regular stamps going up, postcards are now going to cost 32 cents rather than 29, letters to Canada or Mexico are increasing from 80 to 85 cents, and all other international letters are now $1.05 rather than .98. There are also increases to Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services, and Extra Services.
According to the press release, this was the first increase since May 2009.
Did you know that the cost of stamps went up? Am I the only one who someone missed this?
I am not a gourmet cook. I don’t even try new recipes all that often. I experiment a little but tend to stick with recipes that my family likes and I can make quickly while I am working. This Chicken and Noodles recipe is one that I have been experimenting with for about a year and always get rave reviews over. I think it is finally ready to pass along!
Slow Cooker Chicken and Noodles
Family Favorite Slow Cooker Chicken and Noodles
3 skinless chicken breast halves
4 cups chicken broth (2 cans)
2 cups water
16 oz. package Reamers frozen egg noodles (homestyle)
1 package frozen crinkle cut carrots
2 stalks of celery (optional)
onion
salt
pepper
poulty seasoning
2 T cornstarch
Directions:
1) Place the chicken, water, broth, salt (to taste), pepper (to taste), and celery (optional) in the crockpot on low for 4-6 hours until chicken is cooked the whole way through but not falling apart.
2) Remove the chicken and set aside. Put the noodles and carrots into the crockpot for 30-45 minutes depending on how soft you like your carrots.
3) Shred the chicken and sprinkle it with poultry seasoning to taste. Dissolve the cornstarch in a just enough water to liquify it.
4) When the noodles and carrots are done, return the chicken to the crockpot as well as the cornstarch mixture.
Cook for at least 30 minutes on high or leave it for up to a couple more hours on low, depending on how much you want the broth to turn to “gravy” as opposed to broth. You can even make it one day like this and refrigerate overnight and then return it to the crockpot to heat up briefly the next day if you like the gravy to be really thick or are making it ahead for company.
Chicken breasts are the easiest way to make it, but it will be more flavorful if you use other chicken parts. I always throw them in if I have them (like leftover rotisserie chicken). You just have to be very careful to strain your broth for bones before you put the noodles in. I also sometimes use frozen mirepoix (celery, onion, carrots) if I have it instead of the crinkle carrots. You can also cut everything up fresh, but the point of the recipe is to keep it as simple as possible!
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.
I have to admit that when I started hearing things on the news about Walgreens and Express Script not being able to come to a deal, I had no idea what was going on. I’m fortunate to have a really great health care package through my husband’s company and do not have to think much about prescriptions. But I know that for many people, including American’s military service men and women who use the Express Scripts program, this is a huge issue.
What exactly has happened? Essentially Express Scripts would not come to an agreement with Walgreens to keep Walgreens in their program despite Walgreens saying that they would not seek any increase in rates if Express Scripts would agree to extend their contract. Express Scripts wanted to be able to define on their own terms what constitutes brand and generic drugs.
Patients are now scrambling to switch pharmacies all across the country (Duane Reade customers in New York are also impacted) if they want to continue to use in-network pharmacy benefits. You can find out if you are impacted by checking the back of your insurance card and looking for the words “Express Scripts.” If it is not listed there, you are not impacted.
If you were impacted and would like to continue to use Walgreens, Walgreens is offering a special discount on the annual membership for its Walgreens Prescription Savings Club. The cost this month only will be $5 for individuals or $10 for families. Through the Club you can get savings on medications but also discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers, and diabetic supplies.
I’m tired of the health crisis in our country and I am tired of everything being about maximizing profits. I’m all about business, but I think at some point we have to think about the PEOPLE and not just the money. You can get more information about this issue when you follow Walgreens on Twitter or Like Walgreens on Facebook. Check them out and get the story straight from them about what is going on.
I think I spend more money on books than just about anything, and most of that money is spent on Amazon. Because of that, I was thrilled to see the contest on the Amazon Books Facebook page to win a $1,000 Amazon gift card.
It’s easy to enter. Just visit the page and click “Like” to be taken to the entry page. The entry page is just name, email, and phone. You must be over 18 and a US resident to enter.
Contest ends January 23, 2012.
Disney announced this past weekend its newest contest, One More Disney Day. The sweepstakes coincides with 2012 being a Leap Year. Each day from January 1 through February 29, 2012, you can enter to win one of 60 vacation packages for 4 people to the Walt Disney Resort in Florida or the Disneyland Resort in California. One entry is allowed per pers0n per day.
One winner will be chosen for day and the prize includes 5 days/4 nights at the Disney resort, Park Hopper tickets, a $1000 Disney gift card, transportation, and choice of PhotoPass, a shopping spree worth $500, or spa services.Drawings will be held once a week.
See the One More Disney Day Sweepstakes page for more details.
