NEW carters deals!

$5 tops and bottoms! Check it out there is a lot of cute stuff!

http://www.carters.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Carters-Site/default/Home-Show?id=carters&cm_mmc=ETCarters-_-campaign-_-Thanksgiving+PM+Active+Engaged+2011+11+24-_-Shop+Doorbusters&cm_em=dragon101088@yahoo.com

Carters $5 fleece coats and $8 pajamas

http://www.carters.com/carters/kid-girl-black-friday/carters-kid-girl-black-friday,default,sc.html

Carter's door buster's get them now, super cute! Everything in the store is half off plus an additional 20% off if you spend $40 code RTMNCARTERS or take this in to the nearest store http://image.e.carters.com/lib/fefe1671706100/m/1/carters_11-24-11PM_19.jpg?cm_mmc=ETCarters-_-campaign-_-Thanksgiving+PM+Active+Engaged+2011+11+24-_-Shop+Present+This+Coupon+Twenty+Percent+Off+Your+In+Store+Purchase+Of+Forty+Dollar+Or+More&cm_em=dragon101088@yahoo.com this is valid until the 30th hurry!!

Cricut Cake Machine save $400

Yes, that's right! I found the Cricut Cake Personal Cutter online for $49.95! Less then some cartridges! Free shipping! If your a baker like me this is the time to get this! Amazing gift to!

http://www.cricutmachine.com/product_info.php?products_id=441 

Sony Bravada 50" tv for $60? yep!

 So i just found this web site that gets the best deals on the online world. One of the past deals they have had was a Sony flat screen for $59.96! Now that is fantastic! Check often since the products change often! If you use the link below it will use me as a referral and i get points toward free things. Then you can do the same and get points. http://www.nomorerack.com/?cr=2635656

Delicious Pear Crisp

I bought a 3lb bag of pears the other day for $1.50.  They were finally ripe enough to eat today, after waiting what seemed like forever.  I used about half of them to make a pear crisp.  And it was awesome, totally made my day.

PEAR CRISP


6-7 medium size pears, peeled and cubed
1/2 C sugar
2 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. salt

Stir pears, sugar, lemon juice, and salt together and pour into a greased baking dish.

1 1/2 C flour
3/4 C brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 C pecans, chopped
1/2 C dried cranberries
1/2 C butter, melted

Mix together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, pecans, and dried cranberries.  Mix in the melted butter, stir until well combined.
Sprinkle the topping over the pears in the baking dish.  Bake at 375 for 25 minutes.

We also used a couple of pears in our salad tonight for dinner.  Mix together romaine lettuce, sliced pears, a sprinkle of feta, a handful of dried cranberries, some fresh ground black pepper, and drizzle with Balsamic vinegar dressing.  Delicious!

My Free Tree and Dollar Store Decorations

I don't know if you have noticed that I love yard sales and dollar stores. My sister in law is a yard sale diva. She may even be a queen!. I told her a few years ago that I really wanted a tree and if she saw one I would pay here back. She went to a yard sale and they were done for the day, there was a tree. The lady said she could take it for free, since she was loading it up for donation. That is how I got a free fake tree! It is a smaller tree, which I don't mind since its cheaper to decorate and not as overwelming . The last couple years I have had some interesting crafts I decorated with on it. This year I wanted a nice tree! While I was at Honk's Dollar store I noticed they had 9 pack Christmas balls for $1. They happen to have the lime green I am trying to decorate my house with! Score! With a splurge on Led lights (that will save me in the long run), some glitter ornaments 5 for a dollar, some 2 for a dollar, 2 rolls of garland, and an angel for cheap at a thrift store. At Wal Mart they have 26 packs of the Christmas balls for $5, so I got some of those. I wrapped a fleece throw I got at Ikea for $3, as a tree skirt. So for about $40, half of that was the lights, here is my tree!

How to paint your house for cheap!

I got the green paint for this project from Glidden for free. The wall color is a bunch of miss tints that I mixed in a 5 gallon bucket 

I go to the local paint stores to check out miss tints. Recently, I mixed some whites and creams to make a color I love, its a tanish cream. Of course there is a down side to miss tints, you cant mix the same again, and they are premade. I however got super lucky and I got 7 gallons of high quality (usually $50 a gallon) for nothing. For projects this is a great way to go! Try looking at miss tints the next time you want to paint! There may just be an already mixed color you love! If you need more paint try mixing a couple similar colors to make more or add a white to stretch and lighten the paint.

Cute Pilgram Craft for Thanksgiving Decor

I found this cute craft on familyfun.go.com, there are a lot of other cute ideas. If you dont have all the materials, try using things you have around the house. I used cardstock instead of felt, yarn for the pipe cleaners, and foil in the stead of silver paper. They turned out cute and I didnt have to buy anything for the project!http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/holiday-seasonal-crafts/thanksgiving-craft-decorations/thanksgiving-table-decorations/pilgrim-pal-661833/

Antique mirror

I bought this mirror at a yard sale for $10, it was a dark green. With a $.96 can of white gloss spray paint from Wal Mart, some sand paper and elbow grease I made this piece my antique dream for $11! Just sand, blow the dust off, spray the paint on (I sprayed close to get an uneven bubble look in some areas), let it dry and sand to desired look! Super easy and a fraction of the price!

Shabby Chic Shelf for Cheap!

I got this plain white shelf from a friend for free, you could do this to anything it is super easy!  This color is spring  green from Glidden. The small can of paint was shipped to me completely free from allyou.com courtesy of Glidden paint.  There is plenty left for a side table and a couple of frames! yay! 

Double coats on the shelf and completely dry, I began to sand  to show wear.  

Roughed up edges giving it a vintage look

All decorated!

My Shabby chic shelf completely free!

Payless BOGO 50% off as low as $3 a pair!

This includes the already clearance shoes! I just bought 4 pairs of super cute shoes for $35! I'm super stoked! There are some shoes as low as $3 and if you get 2 of them you get one for $1.50. This pair above is one of the pairs I bought. They are on sale for $11 and regular priced at $35. I told my husband that I bought these and got the other 3 for free!

Dress your best for less!

Today at church I got compliments on my outfit. I looked down at my $2 ruffle blouse I got at a thrift store and my $1 skirt I got at a yard sale. Both have the Gap tags on them, with a belt I got at a Dollar store, they look like the latest look! So my secret to my $5 outfits that look like over $100... Learn where to splurge and save. When I say splurge... I mean buy super cheap new clothes!
My first and favorite place to buy kids and my own clothes are yard sales, all the way! If you hit yard sales frequently and with an open mind, you may find some super cute things to wear. First, I look for my size or close to it. I have been known to do a bit of sewing to make things work, not too hard really! Second, I look it over to make sure that its in good condition. Sometimes if I really love it and it's something I can fix I buy it anyways! Third, I try to get dressy clothes so I keep this in mind.
The second cheapest place to look are the thrift stores. Don't give up if you don't find stuff your first time! Every day there are new things! Keep an open mind. I find the best items when I am willing to look out of the box. Sometimes vintage pieces pop up that seriously are the most fantastic pieces! Check out jewelry and belts while you are there!
The place I get things to pull everything together... clearance racks and stores like Ross. The first place I go at a store is the clearance racks. After shopping yards sales and thrift stores I have a hard time parting with $10. I have price points I stick to. I will not pay more then $15 on pants, $20 on shoes, $10 on blouses, $7 on screen T's etc... that is my final price new! Always check the clearance first at any store it kinda makes everything else look expensive after so you hold true to you price points. This isn't my only reason though, I find a lot of gems there. Sometimes things I would have passed up but once I give it a chance and try it on it becomes my favorite piece.
Shoes.... I love shoes just like any other gal! I find most of my shoes at Ross, Pay Less or  eBay. I check the clearance first! My champion running shoes I got for $4 from Pay less and they are great!

Timeless pieces are easy to jazz up with a belt or jewelry. Edgy pieces are fun to get to mix things up sometimes, as well. Just experiment with things and keep a couple looks in mind as you start out or just go for it!

Save money this Thanksgiving!

Last week I got a free turkey with purchase of $100 dollars at Winco. I am not sure which locations are doing this and how long it runs, so call your local stores for details. Check out your ads, Winco is price matching Thanksgiving items. Go here for the list http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=286557778043371&l=a66895bfd2 . There are lots of deals on turkeys and other Thanksgiving items at every store right now. Look for turkey bucks or any other promotion a store may be having!

Splitting costs by having others bring dishes or by bringing your own can really help relieve stress! Try doing a pot luck dinner by giving everyone an item to bring! Try simplifying dishes and using things you already have in the house. Sub for some items that may be expensive to help cut costs. Check those ads to compare prices (remember to factor gas price) I usually go to either the place that will price match multiple stores at the same time (right now around here it would be Walmart or Winco) or the closest place with the best over all price for the items that I need. Stick to your list! It is so easy to shop with your stomach! Do not go to the store hungry! If you are going for a few items use a basket. When you grab a big cart you are more tempted to fill it then a heavy basket weighing you down!

Turning Pumpkins into Snowmen

I had two pumpkins from Halloween that we never got around to carving.  I thought of doing a cute turkey craft with them for Thanksgiving.  But when I saw these snowmen, the idea was too cute to pass up, and I like that they can stick around for December!

All you need:
a pumpkin (rinse any dirt off and dry it really well)
white, orange, and black Acrylic paint
paintbrush
any scrap fabric or scarves you don't use

They were simple to make, and I love they way they turned out.

http://www.viette.com/v.php?pg=293

Once I finished my snowmen I was feeling the jolly winter spirit and pulled out some construction paper and scissors.

I love snowflakes!  They are fun and simple to make, and your kids will love to help!  With a little help from Google, you can find some pretty awesome snowflake patterns.

Check out some of the patterns from this site...
http://highhopes.com/snowflakes.html

Walmart Black Friday Catalog

Walmart has their Black Friday catalog published! Get a sneak peek...
Make sure to select your local store, although I think it is the same everywhere!
http://localad.walmart.com/Walmart/Entry/Flash?forceview=y&promotioncode=LA_Walmart-111121A

10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 24) – Top Toys, Home and Apparel

Midnight on Black Friday (Nov. 25) – Electronics! Electronics! Electronics!

8 a.m. Nov. 25 through the weekend – Gifts for the entire family; electronics and more

Carter's Clothes for Cheap!

Right now, until November 14th, Carter's is having a promotion! If you buy $50+ you get 25% off, or if you buy $25 you get 15% off! The best way to get the most of your money is to buy from the clearance then use the code! Most of their clothes are on sale and the terry sleep and plays are buy one get one free! You will have to pay the $6 shipping if you use the promo code, gift25 or gift15, online. It would cost that for me to drive to the local Carter's so I just paid the shipping. Great start on Christmas!

Don't forget to print this off if you choose to go to the store
http://view.e.carters.com/?j=fe4e16777c6c00747613&m=fefe1671706100&ls=fdf21d747366007e731d7275&l=fec310787365027e&s=fe26157973670275701473&jb=ff67177575&ju=fe2d177277610c7e711271&cm_mmc=ETCarters-_-campaign-_-Extra+Savings+Active+Engaged+2011+11+10-_-View&cm_em=politis@hotmail.com&r=0

For the carters web page

http://www.carters.com/carters

Getting a great workout for cheap

Joining a gym or hiring a personal trainer can be a great motivation to get going on a new fitness regimen.  However, I've learned from experience that you can get a great workout in your own house or (better yet) outside!  I actually prefer working out on my own, and avoid the gym for numerous reaons…#1 being that it can be expensive (it can also be a waste of money if you are not using what you pay for).

When the weather is nice there are countless ways to get exercise outdoors.  One of my favorite ways, and one of the easiest ways to get started on working out, is to walk.  When the weather allows, or if you're brave enough to bundle up and go out in the cold, start walking.  You don't have to power walk, walk a certain amount of miles, or walk for so many minutes. Just enjoy a nice walk with your spouse, with your kids, with a friend, or on your own.  Try to set a new goal to walk anywhere that you may be headed, that is less than a mile away.  Instead of hopping in the car to drive to the nearby mini mart or to a friend's house, try walking there.  You will feel awesome.  Not only does it provide a chance for exercise, but it also provides a chance for you to "slow down" from the fast pace of every day life.  There is something sweet and simple about taking the time to walk, you have a moment to think and to enjoy the beauties of the world.

As the weather is getting colder and we move into winter, it can be more difficult to feel motivated to head outside for exercise.  There are lots of great ways to get a good workout in your own home.  No fancy equipment needed either.  If you love music, turn your favorite tunes up and dance around the house for 20 minutes.  Show those dance moves off!  You can also come up with your own aerobic routine in your living room.  Start off marching in place for a warm up, then as you get going start alternating with 1 minute of knee lifts, 1 minute of leg kicks, 1 minutes of side steps, etc.  Come up with any sort of Jane Fonda grape-vine routine that you want, and have fun putting it all together for your own personal aerobic class.  This is one of my favorite ways to work out lately as my belly is getting bigger with baby #2!

If you have a set of hand weights google some exercises for strength training and come up with your own circuit routine.  If you don't have hand weights, you can use your own body's resistance to do the same exercises.  Push-ups are one of the best arm and chest exercises and are free of charge.  Squats and lunges help to lift and get your buns into shape.

Check your local library for exercise dvds or books.  This a great way to add variety without paying big bucks on numerous workouts.  I also love to check Hulu.com…there are "commercial breaks" during the workouts but you can march in place until the workout starts up again.  Same with youtube.com…you can find video clips that work for you and put them together for your own routine.

While exercising, remember that what you are doing is good for your heart, your bones, and your state of mind.  If your jeans fit better after a month of sticking to it then all the better!

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/tipsandtricks/a/basictraining.htm

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/at-home-workouts-0

http://www.allyou.com/diet-fitness/at-home-workouts/

Have a Smores Birthday!

Since I had my birthday not too long ago, I thought I would share how I spent it. Super cheap idea you could expand for a kids birthday or just for a social. My birthday was a very small gathering but I thought I would still have some fun with it. I honestly just bought some big marshmallows and chocolate bars at the store, Styrofoam cups and plates from the dollars store. We have a wood burning fireplace so this made it kinda fun to roast the mellos in. Other ideas use the stove, fire pit, or mini BBQ. Anything you use be careful, it is not fun if you get burned! Take wire hangers and use those to roast the mellows. I had a variety of different ways to do the smores. The original Graham crackers and chocolate. I had a little fun by making cookies and brownies to put on either side of the marshmallow. There was also a variety of hot drinks... herbal teas, different flavor hot cocos, and apple cider.

Other ideas for the Smores:

Birthday Party Ideas

My little one is going to turn two in about a month. Coming up with a theme of the party is my dilemma right now. She is interested in a lot of things right now so I really could go a lot of different ways this year. Last year I narrowed it down to two ideas and she picked kitties, or what she called kikis. I had a lot of fun with the theme. There will be a post of it to give you ideas if you are interested in the theme.The party was made from things you probably have at home, so you could do the theme pretty cheap! Lots of little things to prepare but it was a blast! I found this website today that has a huge list of ideas so if you are having a block, like me, check it out it may help a little. The site has ideas and people posted personal parties on how they did the theme. To keep the budget low, try to find way to make it yourself or similar. If you must buy things, check out discount stores and dollar stores.
http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/party_ideas.html

Free lotion sample!

AmLactin lotin samples for those with dry skin, just take a two question survey for a sample. At the end be careful which boxes you press. I love me free samples great to carry in the purse. They will be on hand when you need them!
http://www.allyou.com/coupons-deals/daily-free-samples-00411000069695/

$5 gift card at walmart

If you buy $15 worth of participating products you recieve  a $5 gift card. I caution youu that if you do not have use for ny of these products, not to buy just because you get the gift card. Although you may be able to use items as gifts. Check it out and see if it is something you are interested in...

http://ebm.cheetahmail.com/c/tag/hBOtAYmB7uBfoB8dktCEC0B$LdI/doc.html?RAF_TRACK

Bountiful Baskets

http://bountifulbaskets.org/
This is how I save a ton of money on produce! Bountiful Baskets is a co-op and is run by volunteers. On Mondays (check the site to see the time your state signs up) I go to their web site to put my order in and pay with a credit card. The basket pictured below is just the basic basket. It is 15 dollars and I pay a $1.50 to help with shipping costs. I have actually gone to the grocery store and checked out the prices for everything I got, in my basket, one week to compare. I checked 4 different stores and picked the best price of the produce I received. It would have been close to 50 dollars plus the cost of gas driving around to 4 different stores! Why do you save that much money? Some may be skeptical about the condition of the produce... honestly, it is usually in better shape than what you find at the store. "Why?" you might say. I was just as skeptical about this at first! When you go on the website and make your purchase, on Mondays, they pool everyones money in your area, and buy produce at whole sale price straight from the farmer. Every week it is a different selection and I never now what I am getting. This week most of the stuff I received I would normally buy, but there were a couple wild cards that will be fun to experiment with.  Even if I chose not to experiment with the 2 items I don't normally buy, I still saved money. There is a truck that brings the locally grown produce to your area (you sign up for the place you pick up and the time) As I mentioned, it is run by volunteers so I try to go earlier to help distribute the produce when I can. The produce you receive is what is in season and there are other basket you can get as well. If you are interested check to see if they are established in your area. They have been branching out and they are getting to new places all the time!  If they aren't in your area, contact them to see if they could bring the co-op to your area!

Storewide Liquidation for Baby

Stumbled upon this website, the store is closing and having a Storewide Liquidation Sale.  Great way to stock up on baby items!  And there's only a $5 flat-rate shipping cost for all orders!

http://www.shop.thebabystoreplus.com/main.sc

vinegar+lolly=love

Dear vinegar,
I have a confession to make... it is... that... I uh... love you! You do so much for me! It is so hard not to love you! You are irresistible, why would I reach for anyone else when you can do almost every job for me? Why spend money on anyone else when you are less expensive and earth friendly? Oh and how versatile! I can use you anywhere and you don't mind. You give it your all and do such a fantastic job! I am convinced God made you just for me, to make my life simple and easier. How I dread the day your are gone. To make sure that day doesn't come I buy you in bulk whenever you are on sale. Here are some of my favorite things you do for me (but there are hundreds of other ways to!)

CLEANING
To make things  easier on myself I have just taken a spray bottle and diluted white distilled vinegar in it and use this in my daily routine to clean everything! mirrors, counter tops, toilet you name it...  plus it is a great deodorizer! Most of what is listed below I got from vinegartips.com, since they have lots of other ways to clean things and recipes. There is more on their site I just tried to shorten it a bit so I only kept the ones I use a lot.

Make your own scouring cleanser by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.

Clean and deodorize a drain by pouring in 1 cup baking soda, then one cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let this sit for 5 minutes or so, then run hot water down the drain.

Remove soap buildup and odors from the dishwasher by pouring a cup of white distilled vinegar inside the empty machine and running it through a whole cycle. Do monthly.

For cloudy glassware, soak paper towels or a cloth in full-strength white distilled vinegar and wrap around the inside and outside of the glass. Let sit awhile before rinsing clean.

Make a metal cleanser by adding enough white distilled vinegar to 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar to make a paste. Rub it on and let it dry on the surface. Wash it off and dry with a soft cloth.

To make cleaning the grill easier, spray a solution of half water and half white distilled vinegar on the cooking surface.

Kill germs/ all purpose cleaner  with a spray of full-strength white distilled vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp cloth. or 1/2 and 1/2 solution vinegar and water

Wash indoor/outdoor carpet and accidents with a solution of 1 cup white distilled vinegar in 1 bucket of warm water. Scrub using a brush or a broom and then hose off.

Get decals off walls or doors by letting undiluted white distilled vinegar soak into them for several minutes before trying to peel them off. Repeat if necessary.

To clean and disinfect baby toys/bottles/books add a good-sized splash of white distilled vinegar to soapy water.

GARDEN

Kill weeds and grass growing in unwanted places by pouring full-strength white distilled vinegar on them. This works especially well in crevices and cracks of walkways and driveways.

Discourage cats from getting into the kids’ sandbox with white distilled vinegar.

Preserve cut flowers and liven droopy ones by adding 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar to a quart of water in a vase.

Keep rabbits from eating your plants. Put cotton balls soaked in white distilled vinegar in a 35mm film container. Poke a hole in the top and place in the garden.

Wash fresh vegetables with a mixture of 1 tablespoon of white distilled vinegar in 1 ½ quarts of water.

Laundry

Prevent lint from clinging to clothes by adding 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to the wash cycle.

Some stains on clothing and linens can be soaked out using equal parts milk and white distilled vinegar.

Remove perspiration odor and stains on clothing, as well as those left by deodorants, by spraying full-strength white distilled vinegar on underarm and collar areas before tossing them into the washing machine.


HEALTH/BEAUTY

 Stave off high blood sugar and other Alzheimer's risk factors with a daily dose of vinegar. According to researchers, there is evidence that vinegar sinks risk factors that may lead to memory decline and dementia -- namely, high blood sugar, insulin resistance, diabetes and prediabetes, and weight gain. While vinegar does not confront Alzheimer's directly, studies at Arizona State University have found that vinegar can curb appetite and food intake, helping prevent weight gain and obesity. Swedish investigators agree. In one study, downing two or three tablespoons of vinegar with white bread cut expected rises in insulin and blood sugar by about 25 percent. Pour on the vinegar -- add it to salad dressings, eat it by the spoonful, even mix it into a glass of drinking water. Any type of vinegar works because it's the acidity that counts.
--Source: AOL Health and "100 SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT ALZHEIMER'S AND AGE-RELATED MEMORY LOSS" by Jean Carper. Copyright © 2010

Stop insect stings and bites from itching by dabbing them with a cotton ball saturated with undiluted white distilled vinegar.

Soothe sunburn with a spray of white distilled vinegar, repeating as often as you like. Ice-cold white distilled vinegar will feel even better, and may prevent blistering and peeling.

Get rid of foot odor by washing feet well with antiseptic soap daily, then soaking them in undiluted cider vinegar for 10 minutes or so. Remember that cotton socks aid odor control more effectively than wool ones.

Tone facial skin with a solution of equal parts white distilled vinegar and water.

Eliminate bad breath and whiten your teeth by brushing them once or twice a week with white distilled vinegar.

AUTOMOTIVE

Remove the hazy film that builds up on inside windows by spraying with white distilled vinegar.

When doing car maintenance, soak rusty bolts and screws with white distilled vinegar to make them easier to remove.

PETS

Kill fleas by adding a little white distilled vinegar to your dog or cat’s drinking water.

Stop a dog from barking with a spray bottle filled with equal amounts of water and white distilled vinegar. When the dog barks, spray the vinegar water in its direction but not in the face.

Remove pet odors. After cleaning, cover the area with baking soda. Let it stand overnight. The next day vacuum up the baking soda and wash the area with white distilled vinegar. Rinse and let dry.

Get rid of bunny/ bunny urine smells. I carpet clean the area the bunny peed with vineger water solution and spray a water/vinegar solution to keep the odor down

COOKING


Freshen wilted vegetables by soaking them in cold water containing a spoonful or two of white distilled vinegar.

Make onion odors disappear from your hands by rubbing with white distilled vinegar.
If you’ve added too much salt to a recipe, add a spoonful of white distilled vinegar and sugar to try correcting the taste.


Thanks vinegartips.com for even more ideas in uses for vinegar!
some other websites with even more ways to use vinegar
http://www.angelfire.com/cantina/homemaking/vinegar.html
http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/vinegar
http://odyb.net/food-cooking/62-little-known-uses-of-vinegar/

Getting the most out of your Spinach

Does anybody else buy those giant bags of spinach from Costco?  Has anybody else felt horrible when they had to throw away half the bag?  Spinach is super healthy and you can get it for a pretty good deal, during the fall.  Although a giant bag may be more than your family can get through before it goes bad, if you're adamant about adding it to your dishes, chances are you can get pretty close to the bottom of the bag.  It's a great way to add some extra vitamins and iron without your pickiest little ones even knowing.

One of the great things about Spinach is that it is very versatile.  You can make green smoothies and add any misc fruits that you may need to use up.  You can add spinach to your favorite soups (think Italian-wedding soup!) or to an omelet or scrambled eggs.  You can make an awesome salad or add it to a sandwich or panini.  I have found some delicious recipes over time, on my quest to use up the last of my spinach before it goes bad.  These are a few of the recipes that have now become "regulars" in our house.

Usually when I make this minestrone recipe I leave out the red wine, add a can of diced tomatoes and any extra veggies I have in the fridge, and I usually leave out the pasta.  I also double the spinach, at least.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/jamies-minestrone/detail.aspx

This frittata is one of my husband's favorite meals.  I add any extra veggies that we have (mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini…) And usually like to add bacon if we have it.  I also use any cheese that I have at the moment (it's especially yummy with feta).
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/crustless-spinach-quiche/detail.aspx

For a delicious green smoothie throw some fresh or frozen berries in your blender with a handful of ice.  Usually you'll need to add some kind of liquid, water or juice.  Rinse a couple of handfuls of spinach to add and blend it up until smooth.  Add anything you'd like, to make them more nutritious or to your taste.  Try adding some yogurt or cottage cheese (gives it a little zing).  You can also mix in some oatmeal or protein powder.

Happy Spinach Eating, and hopefully less guilt for throwing away rotten spinach!

latkes/potato pancakes

This is one of my favorite things to eat! It is a traditional Jewish dish and I like to cook them when it gets close to Christmas/ Hanukkah. I do cheat and cook them throughout the year though they are too good! I can my own apple sauce and this paired with sour cream is my favorite topping. Some other things I have tried: sour cream with chives, jam, cheese, fruit and cream cheese. You can treat it as a cracker or a pancake. Have fun with the toppings! My recipe makes quite a bit,  but if you cook them you can reheat them later. I honestly love eating them and once I pop I cant stop!

4-5 peeled and grated russet potatoes
1 onion peeled and grated
1/4 cup flour
3 large eggs
salt and pepper
enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan about 1/3 to 1/2of an inch deep
topping

Heat oil in pan on medium heat
Mix everything together except the topping and oil until well mixed. (I also mix before I put the next batch in the pan)
Use a spoon to spoon batter out and drop in hot oil (be careful)
Flip once the side gets a golden brown and cook on other side until it looks the same (make sure the pan isn't too hot that the middle is still getting cooked through
Top as desired and enjoy

!

Disney Movie Rewards!

This is a great program, if you haven't already made an account then you've got to check it out! It's easy, you just put in codes from movies you've bought that participate in the program.  You can find other codes online as well.  I have already had five free movies sent to me and I didn't have to pay for shipping!  There is a promotion they are doing right now, if you put a code in by November 15th, you can get 50 bonus points!  The code must be from a dvd, blu-ray, or cd.  The extra code to get the bonus 50 points is M1D17MAIGNEH.  There are so many things you can get from your rewards points starting at 100, the dvds start at about 500 points.  Points add up quick so check your dvds and see if you have any codes to enter!

http://www.disneymovierewards.go.com/

Snapfish buy one photo book get 2 free!

You saw right! Buy one photo book get 2 free! This applies to all photo books so take your pick.This is another idea for Christmas gifts! Shipping applies as well don't forget! This is a great deal! Get 20 page  8x11 to get the deal. use code MYFALLBKS.  You could make 3 different or identical. valid until Nov.8 hurry!

http://www.snapfish.com/snapfish/fe/l=en_US/p/store/photobooks/category/PhotoBookCategory/campaignName=commissionjunction_mysummerbks?AID=10917998&PID=3716939&source=cjcmpg

Free photo album!

Get a hardcover photo book for free, just pay the shipping! You will get a 20 dollar gift certificate just by giving MyPublisher your email. It has to be used on a hardcover, so get the 7.75"x 5.75" which is 19.99 for free! This could be a great Christmas gift!

http://www.mypublisher.com/affiliate/affreepocket?si=OOTtr9mlaCk-YTdNl7J_IIt1HbTr3W_mlQ

Apple Butter in the Crock Pot

To go along with the previous post about an abundance of apples, and making good use of them while they are in season, I wanted to share an easy and delicious recipe for Apple Butter.  When my husband and I first got married, he was attending school in Hawaii.  Which meant I got to live there too, I know, lucky me :)
As fun and beautiful as Hawaii is, I found myself missing my family and the mainland after I had been there a couple of months.  Soon fall came, which is my favorite timeof year, and I felt even more homesick.  I wanted to do all the fun fall activities like making yummy treats, carving pumpkins, and dancing in falling leaves!
We were living with another family at the time, and shared the kitchen space with them.  Which pretty much meant that we hardly ever used the kitchen, it was just too teeny tiny to begin with and we really didn't have many kitchen utensils or appliances to work with.  My husband had found a cheap crock pot on Craigslist and that's what we did most of our dinners in.  So when neighbors gave us a big box of apples, I was unsure what to do with them.  After a little bit of online searching,  I found this awesome recipe on Allrecipes.com for an Apple Butter made in the crockpot…PERFECT!  I sat outside in the warm sun while peeling, coring, and chopping apples….threw them all in the Crock pot with some sugar and spices and let the crock pot work it's magic.  The whole house smelt amazing and I was able to get 4-5 freezer containers full that we ate on just about everything.

Once you get all of the apples peeled and diced, the recipe is easy peasy!  You can also cut back a bit on the sugar and double the cinnamon for a bit more spice if you'd like.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/all-day-apple-butter/detail.aspx

Find other ways to use that Halloween candy!

These yummy desserts use some of that Halloween candy leftovers!! Just wanted to share!!

http://www.allyou.com/food/treats/candy-dessert-recipes-00411000073282/

APPLES

Apples are in season still. If you haven't canned applesauce, made your own apple juice, apple pie filling, or jam you may be missing out. My thoughts on this... it costs money to buy all the things you need to can! If you can get some of your supplies used and the apples as close to free as possible, then this is an excellent way to save money. It could pay off to buy new if you really enjoy canning and do lots of it! There are lots of ways to go about getting apples free. I use to have the most amazing golden delicious tree in my backyard in a past house. I miss it more then you know! It was a great money saver! They take a while to grow but you won't regret planting fruit trees. Another way, get cozy with your neighbors friends and family to see if they need someone to share with. They might just want you to help yourself so their fruit doesn't go to waste. Also, I have seen posts on my local online newspaper classifieds for people to come pick their own. Check your classifieds and if your local paper doesn't have an online classifieds see if they might want to do so! This is great place to barter and get things cheap! Speaking of apples they are awesome in many different ways but another creative idea is to use it in a main dish. Here is a recipe link.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/herbed-pork-and-apples/detail.aspx

Produce in Season

When pinching pennies it is crucial that you try to revolve your meals around what is in season. Though I love pomegranates they are sometimes 4 times the price in May than they are in October! Some of the produce on sale and in season right now are: pears, onions, broccoli, pineapple, avocados, squash, apples, oranges, pomegranates, carrots, and tomatoes. Just by buying the produce in season, you will save a bundle every month! You can experiment a little with produce and you may be surprised!


This is my new favorite recipe that I tried with carrots. Honestly, who said you can't have cake for breakfast?

Carrot Cake Waffles
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flout
2tsp baking powder
1tsp ground cinnamon
1/4tsp salt
1/4tsp ground ginger
1 egg
1/3cup packed brown sugar
1cup milk
1 cup fine grated carrots
1 tsp vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Spread
4ounces cream cheese
1/4cup powder sugar
2 tbs milk
1/2tsp vanilla extract
1/4tsp cinnamon

1. heat waffle maker on medium heat
2. spray waffle maker just before you put mixture on it every time so they don't stick (for some reason I forget this at least once every time I make waffles)
3. pour batter on greased maker (mine uses about 1/4 a cup of batter cook until golden brown
4. place all spread ingredients in blender or food processor until smooth and combined

Use the spread on the waffles  for a yummy breakfast dessert! Only makes enough for 3 or 4 people may want to double!

Free Potty Training DVD!!

Free potty training DVD (cut back on diapers)! There is a time around 18 months some kids get excited to potty train. It is a short window and may not be able to go completely with out diapers, but it lowers the amount of diapers! So even if your little one isn't 3 I would go a head and get one of these it may get you little one excited about it.

http://www.pull-ups.com/na/potty_training_DVD.aspx#

ALLYOU.COM

This is one of my very favorite websites, allyou.com, everyday there is a new sample that is sent to you free of charge. You do have to give the various sites it sends you to your information so they can send the sample. I think it is very imporant that you be careful with giving your information to any site, but allyou is legit! I havent had a problem with them yet. You can either go on their site daily or have them send emails by subscribing.

Costumes 2 dollars!!

Good way to save is to buy when the season ends so... costumes for next year or gifts for Christmas for kids dress up?! Awesome deal! They will go out of stock fast keep an eye on these this week the prices will keep dropping on the others as well! I wouldn't wait on the cheap ones though they will go fast! If there is an option to have your order shipped to the store that is a great idea if the store is near by. It will usually be free shipping that way every store has different policies regarding this.

Walmart
http://www.walmart.com/browse/Halloween/Kids-Halloween-Costumes/Boys-Halloween-Costumes/_/N-93gxZaq90Zaqce/Ne-2p49?ic=32_0&tab_value=All&depts=&ref=

Target
http://www.target.com/sb/party-supplies-holidays-halloween/-/N-5xt2oZ5tdv1#navigation=true&Nao=0&viewType=medium&sortBy=bestselling&minPrice=from&maxPrice=to&isleaf=false&navigationPath=5xt2oZ5tdv1&parentCategoryId=9975432&facetedValue=/-/N-5xt2oZ5zja2Z5tdv1&RatingFacet=0&productsCount=457

Introduction

We are penny-pinching sisters! Most of our time is spent at home taking care of our kids, doing household chores, and brain storming ways to stretch our budgets.  And of course having fun along the way! Growing up in a large family we were taught to be frugal at a young age, which has been a great help in our families today! Why spend more when you can have it for less? With a little creativity you can have just about anything for less! Though we may be cheap, our fashion, fun, decor, and diet have not taken the back seat! We will show you how to live with a champagne taste on a beer budget. Our hope is to inspire others to save money and to pinch those pennies!