Thursday, September 30, 2010

Amanda's Famous Apple Dumplings :)

For those of you who were at the shower last weekend, this is the receipe everyone has been asking for....My Sister Amanda's FAMOUS Apple Dumplings. It doesn't matter how many she makes, they are always GONE by the end of the event. Wish I would have taken a picture for you because they are so pretty!

Apple Dumplings

1 Can crescent rolls
2 Granny Smith apples
1/3 c Melted margarine
1 c Sugar
Cinnamon
Sprite, Sierra Mist, 7 up, Mountain Dew (whatever clear soda you have)

- Peel apples and cut into quarters
- Wrap crescent rolls around each quarter
- Place in dish with sides touching
- Sprinkle desired amount of cinnamon over each one
- Mix melted margarine and sugar, spread over dumplings
- Carefully pour soda around the base of the dumplings until you get about ¾’’ deep in bottom of dish.
- Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes
(Makes 8 Servings)
Serve Warm

You can prepare your apples and crescent rolls and place in dish the night before and refrigerate.
Then pour cinnamon, sugar mixture and soda the next day and bake.

This recipe is so inexpensive to make, and, EASY. It looks & tastes like a million bucks :)

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

A day of Savings!!!!

So, my entire goal for the day was to utilize the the few hours I had a babysitter & finish the birthday shopping for Cole that I have desperately needed to do. (I was shopping for myself, parents, siblings & Grandma!). Plus there were some awesome sales at Babies R Us this week so I decided to nab a few things off my list of "need before Jake arrives". Never did I think I would do this well!!!!

Target
Huggies Supreme Wipes were on Sale for $1.99 a box (regularly $2.39). I purchased 3 for a total of $5.97. I had (1) Target Coupon for .75 off a box, and, a Manufacturer Coupon for $2.50 off of 3 boxes. This would have brought the total down to $2.72 or .90 a box. Well, when they rang up, they ended up ringing up at $1.33 a box, so I got them for .25 a box. Seriously - no joke. I have a feeling this was some type of a register mistake, but, the lady said it was correct, I paid my bill & left with a HUGE smile on my face.
(Savings of $6.42)



Toys R Us
I knew I had to buy 4 birthday gifts for Cole while in there today, I picked out everything I wanted before I went (thankfully!), and, here is how I did.

Gift #1: Ben 10 Alien Costume $24.99, Berenstein Bears Book $3.99 - total $28.98
$5/$25 Coupon
OOP = $23.98
(savings of $5.00)

Gift #2: Lil' Tikes Punt, Pass & Kick Football Set regularly $22.99, on clearance for $15.37
(savings of $7.62)

Gift #3 & 4 PLUS Misc: Lil' Tikes Auto Pitch T-ball/Baseball Set $34.99, Mitre 2 Goal Soccer Set $34.99
Baby Carrier $19.99, (2) Washcloth Sets $5.98 each - Total for the 5 above items $101.93
$5/$25 Coupon
$3/$3 Coupon
Baby Carrier Sale -5.01
15% off Baby Sling/Carrier -2.25
Washcloth Sale -6.00
OOP = $87.30 (with tax)
(savings of $21.26)

Babies R Us
Carters Diaper bag (so cute - doesn't look anything like a diaperbag!!) $39.99
(2) Changing Pad Covers $12.99 each
Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail $32.99
(2) Arm & Hammer Refills $5.99 each
TOTAL of above 6 items $110.94

20% off Diaper Bag Coupon -8.00
B1G150% off Changing Covers -6.49
SALE Diaper Pail -5.00
20% off one Item Coupon (Diaper Pail) -5.60
SALE Diaper Pail Refills -1.98
OOP = $91.21 (with Tax), used $50 GC so only paid $41.21 OOP actually
(savings of $27.07)

PLUS I left with a $10 GC to use on my next purchase there (and another 20% off coupon) from a Promotion I completed today.


TOTAL SAVED TODAY = $62.37 JUST by combining sales, coupons & being willing to check out more than once if needed. WHAT A DAY!!!

Sunday, September 26, 2010

A perfect "pear" :)

Yesterday was a lovely day. My 2 beautiful Sisters & Mom had a lovely luncheon with my Grandma's, Aunts & Cousins celebrating our soon-to-join-us Jacob.



It was a fall theme, in honor of Cole & Jacob being the "Perfect Pear" for Jason & I. With hand-painted gourdes, pine cones & homemade sugar cookies (perfectly packaged!) for everyone to enjoy.





With an assortment of homemade foods & desserts, I was able to fill my tummy & my soul by visiting with some of these special family members that I rarely get to see.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

You spent WHAT on lotion?!

Isn't it funny how certain trends in your life progress? I had a moment this morning where I just had to sit back & smile as I "painfully" transitioned yet again.

Yes, this is a tale of Body Lotions ... Bear with me, I will tie it all together :)

When I was in High School, Bath & Body Works was a big deal. I would save my money & be so excited when I finally got to go shopping at BBW. Stocking up on all my favorite scents, making sure to have some stashed in my locker, PE bag, and, of course trial size for my purse to make sure it was "known" I used BBW :)

As I got older, I began to realize how much that stuff STUNK - it was way to perfumed & overpowering for me. In my 20's I found a company called Philosophy that produced a wonderful line of products. A lightly perfumed scent, while smelling almost completely natural. Amazing Grace was the scent I am most fond of - and can't even begin to tell you how many compliments over the past 10 years I have received. Yes, I can easily say this is a guilty pleasure of mine. The only downfall....a bottle (it is large though) of Amazing Grace costs me $50. (yes, you heard me....$50)

And, sitting on all my tables - nightstands - and bathroom counter now is.....Jergens. I know, this seems completely ridiculous right...how could I possibly downgrade to just a drugstore brand of lotion?! Well...let me tell you, when I was couponing a year ago I got about 10 bottles of the stuff for FREE, and, in a household surviving on 1 income, FREE IS GOOD!

This morning I canceled my auto-delivery of Amazing Grace for now. It was painful, and, hard - but, seriously - $50 is a lot of diapers with a new baby on the way! Isn't it funny how as a Mom we really are OK with sacrificing what we love for the betterment of our family?! If you would have asked me at 21 or 22 if I would ever cancel my auto-delivery of this little Gem I would have told you not until I'm homeless...but, babies change everything :)

Now, don't cry too much for me, I still have 1/2 of a large bottle of my "liquid gold" stocked away in a secret place, and, a full bottle of the corresponding shower gel...I plan to use those as I need to find my "happy place" in the sleepless nights ahead!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Haircut Time

One of the hardest things for Cole is getting a haircut. We long ago gave up the attempts to get it done professionally - and turned to Jason cutting it at home with the clippers. This was the most successful cut we have had yet! I did think the lip was a nice addition though...maybe he thought that would get him out of it?! :)