I love to read other blogger reviews and giveaways! You may see some of my easy cooking tips and recipes, but you definatley will see other blogs I like and maybe even some info on giveaways!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Baking Queen?

So my mother in law brought this great and very cool website to my attention, called . They have some of the neatest things for baking cakes, cupcakes, even candy! If you enjoy baking and are doing some baking for a special event, you should check out this website. They even have some unique categories to browse through such as; military, candy, men, ice, marzipan, mints, mail, legal, keys, champagne, and the list goes on and on. It's a fun site to at least go window shopping and you can stock pile your wish list!

Monday, January 24, 2011

I gotta love a local girl....Pink!

just wants to say....love Pink's song and video Raise Your Glass! Yes, the video might seem strange but's its the message that counts! Love to support a local Philly girl that's not comforming to a Britney Hollywood Type! You go Pink!

Looking to save a few hundred dollars?

Looking at various ways to save monthly and yearly dollars can be frustrating for those of us who have already done that and feel there's nothing else left to cut back? But, have you looked at cancelling your cable or satellite TV? I know, how can you live without your reality TV and how can the kids manage without their dose of cartoons? Well, your family doesn't have to stop watching TV! Check out this website called PlayOn. You can watch several of your favorite shows completely free using a product called Hulu on your computer screen.

Now, if you want to make use of your new HD Television, you can do that too! For a $40.00 fee you can stream TV shows and movies from Hulu.com, Netflix, and more to your television.

"PlayOn is a software program that runs on your Windows PC, giving you access to a wide range of Internet content on your TV -- Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, Amazon VOD, and many others." -> from the PlayOn website.

Reading through some of the testimonials, people are literally saving hundreds per year. I had my hubby try it for free last night on our computer and the show as very clear, just as we were watching it on our TV. (only on a much smaller screen of course! LOL)

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Snapfish Valentine Cards with Free Shipping!

Hurry, make your Valentine cards today and get 25% off plus FREE shipping on your order. Just use code LOVE25FS by February 7.

I noticed they also sell Photo Blankets which I think would be such a neat and unique gift for those of you in the colder areas! Use FSBLANKETS for Free Shipping.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Get your free booklet with SAVINGS!

Found a great page when I was looking for some coupons for Mr. Clean products. If you click on the savings link on the bottom of the page, you will be prompted to enter your mailing information for a booklet of ideas as well as savings of $35.00.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Low Calorie Muffin's

Jiffy Blueberry Muffins

1 box of Jiffy Blue Berry Muffin Mix 160 cal
1/4 cup of cinnamon applesauce 50 cal
1/4 cup of 2% milk 75 cal
Total Calories 285
Spray muffin tins.
Mix well and put in small muffin tins.
Bake per directions on box.

Makes 11 small muffins Aprox. 26 Calories Ea.

Also, you may order a FREE receipe book. http://www.jiffymix.com/bookorder.php

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Trying to Eat Healthier

In an effort to try and eat better and shed a few holiday pounds, I made a healthy dinner last night that was easy to split into two meals. One healthier version for hubby and myself & one more kid friendly version. In addition, it was easy, cheap, and quick to prepare.
What I used:
1 bag of the steamfresh Cheese Ravioli
1 box of frozen spinach
2 tablespoons of crushed red pepper (in the jar, some call it hoagie spread)
1 tablespoon of crushed garlic
salt & pepper
fresh grated parmesan cheese (or shakeable if you prefer)
bag of frozen broccoli
2 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of olive oil
I also had about a cup of left over ground turkey from taco's the day before (optional)

Steam up your ravioli as per directions on your bag
In the microwave I nuked the block, of frozen spinach for 1 minute to get it kick started
In a hot sautee pan I put in the olive oil, turkey meat, crushed garlic, and red pepper
-let that cook for just a minute stirring to break up the meat thoroughly
Add your spinach which should be just frozen in the middle and break it up into the pan


Meanwhile, boil your broccoli until tender in another pot & take your butter and melt in the microwave.


After your spinach and turkey meat appears to be hot and done, add salt & pepper to taste. If you can't use salt due to dietary restrictions, you can substitute about a tspn of paprika instead. Tip: If your mixture looks a little dry, simply add a tablespoon or two or water and mix throughly.

In a separate bowl, empty out your ravioli which should be cooked by now. Drizzle very lightly with aprox. 1 tspn of olive oil and mix to coat each ravioli to prevent sticking.

For the kiddo's -> plate the raviolis and broccoli, drizzle the melted butter, top with shredded parmesan cheese, & salt & pepper. (my kids' will eat broccoli, but not the spinach mixture)

For the adults -> spread the spinach mixture on each plate, top with raviolis & aprox. 1 tablespoon of parmesan cheese.

By my own calculations on my products I used, this dinner for the adults ended up being about 450 calories.

Tip: I try to use regular olive oil or "light" olive oil instead of EVOO because of the caloric content.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Breakfast for Dinner

Well tonight hubby is out with his boss at a dinner meeting having fine wine and a great steak! So, I thought it only appropriate to take the night off from cooking. Well, almost anyway! An easy breakfast for dinner. We are having breakfast which is the easiest meal to cook in my opinion and the favorite of the kids! They just love to crack those eggs. Although, a few shells may have to be dug out of the bowl, we all enjoy making this one together.

Scrambled Eggs with a 4 cheese blend
Crispy Bacon
Left over sweet Hawaiian rolls
Fresh granny smith apple slices

This dish is super easy and I'm sure everyone knows how to scramble an egg, but here's a few tips from my kitchen.

When you are cooking the eggs, when you get to the end and they are almost done, simply leave them in your frying pan so they come out as one whole circle or round egg. Almost like you are making an omlette. Then cut your round into quarters. This enables your egg to stay on your roll and makes eating it less messy.

Right before you are reading to release your eggs from your pan, sprinkle heavily with a 4 cheese blend (or whatever cheese you have in your fridge). Salt & Pepper to taste.

I think doing the bacon in the microwave makes for a less messy and quicker bacon. I like to cut the bacon in half so they fit on the rolls easier, then place them on a paper plate with a paper towel on top. I use 1 minute for each piece of bacon as my guide.

As a final note, I would like to say this is an easy and cheap dinner for your family.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

What's for Dinner tonight?

My daughter and I like to do a lot of cooking together. She loves to pretend she is on a food network show, hosting it of course! So the question is what is for dinner tonight?


Well, tonight we are having a healthy dinner with moderate calorie count. Here is what is on the menu:

Fresh locally caught flounder (2 fillet's for a family of 4 is enough)
Fresh Brussels sprouts (yes, one of my kids will actually eat these!)
Left over asparagus & parmesan cheese risotto from yesterday's lunch
Hawaiian Dinner Rolls (the kids love these!)

I'm keeping it simple because I had to work today!

The plan for the flounder is to lightly sauté the filet's in a mixture of the following:
- Approximately 1 tblspn of olive oil (the extra virgin is more calories, use regular olive oil)
- Approximately 2 tblspn of lemon juice (don't bother buying fresh, use RealLemon in a bottle)
- Salt & Pepper to taste or as a salt alternative feel free to use Mrs. Dash I often do!
- Add Fresh parsley when it's done for extra flavor and color

The plan for the Brussels sprouts is even more easier! Simply put them in your steamer. If you don't have a steamer, you can use boiling water. Cook until tender and serve with freshly squeezed lemon juice from the bottle or my favorite, a light sprinkling of apple cider vinegar.

My left over's will be microwaved and the dinner rolls will be popped into a toaster oven for convenience then served lightly toasted.

The kiddo's can participate in this meal in several ways:
Measure out the lemon juice
Measure out the olive oil
Add the parsley
Add the salt&pepper
Put the rolls in the oven & when warmed, put them in a nice basket with a linen napkin.
Wash the brussells sprouts


The important part is that my daughter and I get to spend quality time together doing something we both love!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Idea for Family Car Trip to Disney World!

We have been spending lots of time preparing for a family trip to Disney World. This will be our first CAR TRIP to Florida with the kiddo's. We have been to Disney many times, but always by plane. I am getting alot of advice and decided to take some by preparing little goodie bags full of activities and treats for the trip. I just found in my local grocery store these adorable little ouches of freeze dried real fruit. They are manufactured by Brothers All natural but have Disney graphics all over them. They were 99 cents a package in my local store. I picked up Donald Duck, Mickey, and of course, Hannah Montana. The one thing I liked is that they are preservative and sugar free!


I have been storing all my little treats and activites in a basket so the kids will be surprised! I really think they will love these little fruit treats!

For a link to their site, click on the heading.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Cute, Flirty, New Stylish Lunch Bags for FREE!

If you or someone in your household eats Lean Cuisine, check out their new promotion. You can enter codes which you obtain from the inside of your Lean Cuisine product to earn a new lunch bag for free! I entered my first code today, which was worth 1 point. It takes 20 to get the free bag. This promotion is for a limited time only so look for one code inside every LEAN CUISINE® box you buy.

Even boxes that don’t mention the lunch bags may contain a code.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

$10 OFF purchase of $50 or more at Aeropostale

$10 OFF your purchase of $50 or more

Discount applies to purchases after all discounts have been applied but before applicable taxes. May not be combined with other discount offers. Not valid for purchases of gift cards, online purchases or previous purchases. Purchases over 50 items in a single day at any Aeropostale store are considered bulk purchases and are not eligible for this discount. No cash value. Aeropostale and P.S. From Aeropostale employees are not eligible. Duplication or reproduction of this coupon in any manner voids the coupon and Aeropostale has no obligation to accept it. Please present this coupon to receive discount. Limit one coupon per customer. Not valid at P.S. from Aeropostale stores. Redeemable at Aeropostale stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canda only. Valid from 01/08/2011 to 01/31/2011. USE: Coupon Code: 98397095.

Viva La Starbucks!

Just found a new Giveaway that is near and dear to my heart, Starbucks! If you can't do without your morning coffee, check out this giveaway for a free $10.00 Starbucks Gift Card courtesy of the Single Parent Retreat.

I love my latte's should be my first tattoo!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Tony's Pizza is Giving Away 99 Days of Prizes

Check out this site daily for chances to win one of several prizes. They include everything from pizzas to Visa cards!