Labels: Family, Holidays

Happy Freebie Friday from Freebies 4 Mom and MomAdvice! We are so happy you stopped by and hope you will swing by Heather's site for fantastic freebies and deals all week

We have big plans this month to offer oodles of great giveaways and we are kicking it off with an HP Photosmart Printer With TouchScreen and a Castle Knights board game that you won't want to miss.Of course, if you don't win the HP Photosmart Printer here, you can enter for another chance to win over at Heather's giveaway! Don't forget to visit all of the fantastic giveaways this week!

While you are here you can enjoy a recipe for pumpkin cranberry cornbread that would be perfect with a big bowl of chili, learn ways that you (YES, YOU!) can help a friend or family member that is unemployed, and get inspired with great thrifty projects.

You can also get great tips and recipes for your fall tailgating at Kenmore and visit my posts at Scott's Common Sense where I am completing a guest blogging spot for the next three months!

Happy Halloween, everyone!!

Health & Beauty
Oil of Olay Body Wash
Pampers Extra Protection Diaper (Walmart)
Amino Vital
Head & Shoulders

Food
Oregon Chai Latte
Sharis Restaurant free slice of pie (with printable coupon)

Please call your local store or restaurant to confirm they are participating in these freebie events.

OCTOBER
30-31 - Bass Pro Shops Free Family Events
31 - Taco Bell Free Black Jack Taco 6pm-midnight
31 - Michaels Halloween Event 10-2
31 - Toys 'R Us "Trick 'R Treat" 12-3
31 - Lakeshore Learning Kid Crafts make a Batty Buddy 11-3
31 - Sears free Mattel toy to trick-or-treaters (select stores)
31 - Mardel free lamination day (up to 50 ft)

NOVEMBER
7 - The Home Depot Kids Workshop make a Tile Trivet 9-12
14 - Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic make a #48 Garage 10-11
21 - Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic make a Snowman 10-11

Labels: Freebies

I love this tip to skip rinsing those pumpkin seeds (@ Parent Hacks)

These fluffy frosted soap cupcakes are adorable (@ Soap Queen)

I am loving this lacy cabinet transformation (@ Daily Danny)

I love this sweet little Halloween garland (@ forty-two roads)

I am loving these ideas from a Halloween photo shoot and these batkin rings (@ Eddie Ross)

This handmade play tent would be adorable in my daughter's room! (@ ohdeedoh)

These homemade monograms would be adorable on my kid's doors (@ ohdeedoh)

I want to try this recipe for homemade mayonnaise (@ Southern Grace Gourmet)

These knitted bunny ears would be a hit for Halloween (@ Flint Knits)

This ring pillow for a wedding is so elegant and sentimental (@ Lil Blue Boo)

I am really loving this book sling for little ones (@ Sew Liberated)

This no carve pumpkin inspiration is great (@ DIY Maven)

I love these vintage school desk makeovers (@ Trey & Lucy)

I am going to dye our pumpkin pancakes orange for Halloween (@ not martha)

I want to make a big pot of this chicken pot pie soup (@ Cooking During Stolen Moments)

These apple cider doughnuts look like a yummy fall treat (@ Real Mom Kitchen)

I love these adorable little apple cups for serving apple cider (@ Shivaya Naturals)

This is a much better way to carve a pumpkin (@ Make)

I want to make some of this easy homemade cheese bread (Lynn's Kitchen Adventures)

I am bookmarking these 50 cheap & easy Halloween costumes for next year (@ Coupon Sherpa)

I love this laundry room inspiration (@ The Farm Chicks)

This Cinnamon Bun Oatmeal looks divine (@ Thought 4 Food)

These oven hand mitts would make great hostess gifts for the holidays (@ The Idea Room)

This pumpkin cobbler sounds like the perfect finish to an autumn dinner (@ goodLife {eats})

Labels: Favorites, Notebook

It is no secret that our family endured almost a year of unemployment and a mountain of credit card debt that came along with it. I often look back on that time in our lives and wonder how we ever did it. How did we make that situation work? How did our marriage survive it? How did we manage to keep our home and our car?

There are so many families right now that are truly suffering... in much worse ways than we have ever had to endure. This time of difficulty is supposed to turn around in our economy and in many ways it has for many. I know though that many others are still enduring hardship and struggling to overcome these difficulties.

With that being said, I wanted to share with you some ways you can make a difference in the life of someone who is undergoing financial struggle and unemployment. You can make an incredible difference in the life of someone who is struggling and, in most cases, it won't even cost you a dime!


Lend an Ear- The most important thing you can do for someone who is having a hard time financially is to just sit and let them talk. Let them share with you the anger that they have over their situation, let them cry tears of grief over the struggles they are enduring, and celebrate with them when those times turn around.

Let them talk about what they feel like talking about and try not to push them to tell more than they feel comfortable with. It is a very brave thing to do to open up and tell someone that you are struggling and it takes time and trust for them to want to share this private information with you.


Offer To Babysit- The #1 cause for divorce is money problems. When a spouse is unemployed, particularly the male in the family, it is such a difficult time in a marriage because so much of one's pride and self-esteem comes from being able to contribute financially to the family.

The best thing you can do to keep that marriage growing strong is offer to support them by babysitting for them. Give the family the time they need to have a date night or just to have time to quietly do some job searching.

If you have the finances to offer a gift card for a night out, that is a wonderful and thoughtful touch. Think of fun budget-friendly things they could do like going bowling, or a gift card to Barnes & Noble for books or coffee, or a gift certificate to the movie theater.

Better yet, supply a gift that they could use for several nights in like a new board game, an electronic game, a Netflix membership, or ingredients for a fun meal that they could make at home. These are simple gifts that could supply many nights of fun for them during a difficult patch in their marriage.

Meals on Wheels- One of my favorite things to do for people during these times is to just drop off a dinner to them or to bring a meal when I come over to spend time with them. Try to make a big batch of food that could get them through one or two nights when money is tight.

If you lack the cooking gene, head over to the supermarket and pick up a take-and-bake pizza, popcorn, and some break-and-bake cookies. These are likely fun food that have been removed from the grocery budget and will be just as much appreciated as a home cooked meal.

Hire the Unemployed- Check around at your own place of unemployment, contact your friends through social media sites like Facebook or Twitter, and tap into as many people in your network as you can to find a job for your loved one. Do your part to get their resume out there!

If you aren't able to find them a job, consider hiring them for some odds and ends jobs around your house. When one of our family members lost their job, we offered to hire him to remove wallpaper and paint our bathroom. It was a job in our house that we were not looking forward to doing and he was looking for a way to make some extra money. We both felt really good about the project and, in the end, it was the money that helped put the Christmas gifts under their tree. In my opinion, that is a total win-win situation!

Be an Anonymous Giver- Pride gets in the way of sometimes getting the help that someone might need. No one wants to say, "I don't have money for groceries this month. Can you give me some?"

I have some very prideful people in my life who would never tell me when they were struggling. I have learned that anonymous gifts are sometimes the best kinds of gifts to give in these situations. Mail them a gift card or leave pantry ingredients on their doorstep.

Little Things are Sometimes the Best Things- There are so many little ways that you can help those that are struggling that can add up in big ways. Clean out your pantry and bring over the extra food to someone who is struggling, pick up a movie for them, stock them up on diapers for the baby, buy them detergent or paper products that can typically drain the grocery budget, offer to babysit while they run resumes, pass on your old magazines or books for a sweet little pick-me-up, weed through your children's clothes and share those hand-me-downs, send them a card that you are thinking of them, pray for them daily, and cheer them up when you talk on the phone.

Even though I don't like to focus on the negative, here is a little advice on things not to do-

• Don't harass them every day to ask if they have found a job yet. Know that you are likely going to be one of the first people that would be contacted and let them talk about their successes when they occur.
• Don't criticize their unemployed spouse. As I have said before, marriage is hard when a spouse is unemployed and it is important that you do your best not to contribute to the negativity. Allow them to vent, but don't fuel the fire.
• Do your best not to chastise them if they are angry or hurt over what is happening in their lives. Many well-meaning people try to correct anger instead of letting them work through it. Simply saying, "I know this must be tough!" will go a lot further in these situations then correcting their feelings.

As someone who has been on both sides of the fence, you will never know what it will mean to that person to be a steady rock for them to lean on. Try to think beyond yourself and do one nice thing for someone who is unemployed today. It will mean more than you will ever know!

Are you struggling with unemployment or have you struggled with it in the past? What is one thing you could recommend that others can do to help? What is the best thing someone has done for you or someone you love?

Labels: Budget, Personal Finance, Things To Do

Welcome to the Apron Full of Giveaways! This is my little link list where you can share your giveaways that you are running on your blogs or find great contests to enter!

It is going to be a great couple of months ahead with fantastic giveaways for our readers. We are trying to give back to you as much as we can with these giveaways because we are so thankful for your readership.

Today we have two brand new giveaways to offer up. We are giving away a HP Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web to one lucky reader. This printer is valued at $399.99 and has so many cool features that it is almost impossible to list. How about knowing that you could ditch the fax machine, the scanner, the copier, and an energy inefficient printer like I have. Hurry over because this giveaway ends next week!

We also have an amazing Castle Knights Board Game that will thrill any little boy or girl. It is a wooden game that is just the perfect gift to give under your Christmas tree for your little ones. This game retails for $35 and would be a fantastic addition to your board game collection.

Below are the contest links to our contests and to yours! If you are hosting a contest please link it up below. Sorry, we aren't giving away the aprons just showcasing them! Please put your site name and then what type of contest you are hosting. For example, "MomAdvice (Children's Movies)."

Please let me know if you have any questions and good luck to each of you!

Labels: Giveaways

Ah, the sweet smell of Fall is in the air and I am loving the vivid colors in the trees. Nothing says fall to me though like pumpkins and cranberries. When I happened upon this recipe for cornbread that incorporated my two favorite flavors of the season, I could not delay making it.

This recipe is so unbelievably fantastic! Perfectly moist and even better the second day, it is a cornbread that you can feel confident serving with a big pot of chili for tailgating or just enjoying a cozy night at home with your family.

I have prepared this recipe two ways for you! The first is the traditional way stuffed with cranberry deliciousness. The second version is as a muffin and minus the cranberries for the cranberry-haters. We have one of those in our family so I made the second batch just for him...To which my husband pronounced, "Perfection," and then he swiftly ate three!

Yes, this is a recipe for everyone and is the perfect way to use up the last of that pumpkin after preparing a pie, or pumpkin pancakes, or pumpkin pasta, or pumpkin spice latte, or pumpkin waffles.

Just consider me a resource for all-things-pumpkin this year!

Pumpkin Cranberry Cornbread

1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 cup cornmeal
2/3 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
3/4 cup buttermilk (I substituted with regular milk and a teaspoon of vinegar to sour)
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 eggs, room
2 tablespoons honey
1 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 8" x 8" baking pan or a 9-inch pie pan. In a bowl, toss together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. In another mixing bowl, mix with a wooden spoon, the pumpkin puree, sour cream or buttermilk , butter, eggs and honey, until well combined. Add the pumpkin mixture to the flour mixture just until combined. Mix in the cranberries. Transfer to a prepared baking dish. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until edges just begin to color. Cool to room temperature.



Pumpkin-y Cornbread Muffins (For the Cranberry Haters)

1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 cup cornmeal
2/3 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
3/4 cup buttermilk (I substituted with regular milk and a teaspoon of vinegar to sour)
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 eggs, room
2 tablespoons honey
Sugar for sprinkling (I used the raw sugar)


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with muffin liners. In a bowl, toss together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. In another mixing bowl, mix with a wooden spoon, the pumpkin puree, sour cream or buttermilk , butter, eggs and honey, until well combined. Add the pumpkin mixture to the flour mixture just until combined. Transfer to the prepared muffin tin. Sprinkle with a little sugar (I used raw sugar) on top. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until edges just begin to color. Cool to room temperature. Makes approximately 12-13 muffins.

Labels: Kid Recipes, Recipes

It is my favorite day of the week today and I hope it is yours too. Thanks to Freebies 4 Mom for sharing the best freebies of the week. Please share your thoughts about Freebies 4 Mom on her quick one minute survey while you are browsing around so Heather can continue to help provide the best free stuff on the net.

While you are here, be sure to see my favorite bread machine recipe, find out the latest fashion trends for the season, get inspired, and enter to win the giveaways this week. Enjoy your weekend, everyone!



Health & Beauty

Clarins Facial Treatment (at Lord & Taylor Oct. 22-24)
Tampax & Always Sample Kit (includes free Always product coupon)
Gain detergent & fabric softener (submit video review)

Food

Edible Arrangements Chocolate Dipped Fruit (on Facebook)

Please call your local store or restaurant to confirm they are participating in these freebie events.

OCTOBER
Free Night of Theater (reserve your free pair of tickets)
24 - Barnes & Noble free cookie and hot chocolate (with printable coupon)
24 - Lakeshore Learning Kid Crafts make a Halloween Countdown Calendar 11-3
24 - Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic make a Frankenstring Magic Trick 10-11
24-25 - Bass Pro Shops Free Family Events
30-31 - Bass Pro Shops Free Family Events
31 - Michaels Halloween Event 10-2

Labels: Freebies

I want to make a list of 35 things to do before I turn 35 (@ whatever)

I like this post on smart storage solutions for kid's toys and art (@ Tada! Shop)

I love this great pumpkin makeover and the ways they can be switched for the holidays (@ This Blessed Nest)

These button and wire brooches would make great little holiday gifts (@ CraftyPod)

These cereal box stenciled Halloween bags would be adorable for trick-or-treating (@ alpha mom)

I would love to slipcover my ottoman (@ Sew Much Ado)

I love these drying mats for the bathroom and kitchen (@ A Foothill Home Companion)

I really love this acorn bird feeder (@ design sponge)

These pom pom pumpkins are absolutely adorable (@ domestic fluff)

I want to try these homemade healthy and delicious granola bars (@ Serious Eats)

I like this round-up of Where the Wild Things Are crafts and activities (@ The Crafty Crow)

I love this inexpensive bookcase makeover (@ a penny saved)

I would love to try to make this homemade caramel (@ Giver's Log)

This candy corn bark looks delicious (@ The Idea Room)

These pom pom flowers would look adorable on my daughter's little table (@ Happy Together)

I like these easy monogrammed pumpkins (@ The Shabby Nest)

This homemade Zuppa Tuscana looks like a warm fall dinner (@ Annie's Eats)

This spaghetti with artichoke hearts and tomatoes looks like a great pantry dish (@ The Pioneer Woman)

Labels: Favorites, Notebook

Welcome to the Apron Full of Giveaways! This is my little link list where you can share your giveaways that you are running on your blogs or find great contests to enter!

I am taking the week off to focus on our family since the death of my grandfather. I have had some wonderful women fill in this week for me to guest blog and I am very thankful for their assistance. Your kind comments on these posts is greatly appreciated as it has been so great for me to be able to focus my efforts where I am most needed.

Our giveaway ends today for a Baby Bjorn Organic Baby Carrier With Carrier Cover. This carrier is valued at $200 and is a fantastic way to keep your baby close and snuggly with these chilly days ahead! Even if you aren't in the baby stage anymore, I guarantee that this would make the best baby shower gift, holiday gift, or donation to a women's shelter this year!

I have some really, really incredible giveaways coming up as I start ramping up the giveaways for the holidays. My focus is to really give back as much as I can to my readers so be watching for new giveaways starting next week!

Below are the contest links to our contests and to yours! If you are hosting a contest please link it up below. Sorry, we aren't giving away the aprons just showcasing them! Please put your site name and then what type of contest you are hosting. For example, "MomAdvice (Children's Movies)."

Please let me know if you have any questions and good luck to each of you!

Labels: Giveaways

Guest Post by Ina S., Co-Founder of M641

With temps dropping fast and possibly budgets, given the recent round of back-to-school shopping, what’s a frugal fashion-forward mom to do? We picked some key trends straight from the runway that will actually work in your closet and your budget. Here are a few of our fave trends for Fall!

• Faux – You’ll see faux leather, fur and reptile this season. Pick up a military inspired faux leather jacket or faux fur vest to pair with your favorite fitting jeans or a great pair of faux suede boots.

• Draped Fabrics – Flowing draped fabrics are a must. And with cardigans everywhere this season, try yours oversized, and wear it belted or unbelted

• Studs and/or Sequins – You are not going for the blingy look though! Try to think chic rocker-esqe.

• Surrealism – Bring interest into your outfit by adding texture and intrigue. Find dreamy, earthy, artistic jewelry or accessories. Think of these pieces as conversation pieces!

• Carry All Purses - Larger purses are in, but not those enormous ones. Conversely, clutches are also very on trend this season.
  

• Graphic Tees – Use these pieces as a fun element to your wardrobe for layering. Look for screen print graphics that you connect with personally.

• Color With Color – Mix purples, reds & gray for Fall 09. Shift your thinking about gray. It’s not drab…it’s classic. This Fall use it as your main backdrop then sprinkle in color by wearing a purple scarf and red nail polish.

Harness your inner rocker-chick while staying realistic in the overall outcome of your outfit. We love high-waisted (very slimming) leggings paired with a cool graphic tee or tank top and layered up with a swingy cardigan. Change up the look by belting the cardigan with a studded belt. The addition of cool sunglasses and a favorite “it” bag will help you achieve a trendy but functional Fall ensemble.

When seeking out your new Fall closet additions, a big consideration of course is cost. Another is making your dollar count for something. We put this inspiration board together for you featuring emerging and indie brands. Many of the brands featured here stand for more than just the latest trends. This Fall and Winter you may enjoy investigating lesser-known labels, and along the way find gems that are an extension of your own personality.

Whether you believe in going green, giving to a greater good or are most interested in looking good, remember to have fun and spend wisely!



1. Classic Fleur Tee $32.00 by Brooklyn Royalty on Smashing Darling 2. Colorful Leather studded bangles, set of 5 (could break up the set to give as gifts!) $46.00 by Michelle V’s jewelry on Smashing Darling 3. Beyond Basic Black Cardigan $42.99 by on ModCloth 4. Ceramic geode pod pendant $9.00 by Tabmade (Lori Phillips) on Etsy 5. Organic Cowl Neck Dress $70.00 on SPUN 6. Juliette Tassled Tote Bag $94 by Deux Lux on Moxsie 7. Faux Fur Elise Vest $47.99 on ModCloth 8. Vegan Bourbon Street Ankle Boots $49.99 on ModCloth 9. Freedom Waist Jacket by M641

Labels: Guest Posts

I am still the biggest fan of my bread machine. I do realize that they aren't for everyone. Some people love to knead dough and use their stand mixer to do the heavy duty mixing or even to do the process by hand. Not me! The bread machine is the way to go at this stage in my life and it is worth every inch of space that it takes up, residing on the top of the refrigerator.

We haven't given up buying sandwich bread, but the bread machine is essential to me for easy entertaining and for our weekly pizza night traditions. It has saved me many a trip to the store for hamburger buns. For the holidays, I love to crank out a batch of fancy rolls with a little spread or dip. For the ultimate in special Saturday morning traditions, a little indulgence in monkey bread or fancy cinnamon rolls is a special family treat. Making these treats myself, I am assured that I am giving my kids those fun food memories, but am controlling the quality of the ingredients that are going into them.

This bread recipe is a no-fail bread machine recipe that I have used for years. The ingredients are so simple and it makes the perfect loaf of bread every single time.


Portuguese White Bread

1 cup water
3 tablespoons margarine
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups white flour
1 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

Add all ingredients in order listed into your bread machine. Choose the"basic" cycle and wait for the perfect loaf of white bread to appear! Yes, it is that simple!

Do you have a bread machine? What is your favorite recipe to make with this appliance?

Labels: Recipes

A big thanks to Heather at Freebies 4 Mom for sharing her great round-up of freebies this week! Please visit her site weekly for all of the latest and greatest in freebie goodness.

While you are here, enjoy my favorite recipe for protein packed smoothies, take on a 30 day challenge to reduce clutter, and check out the giveaways for the week.
Health & Beauty
Zyrtec (Walmart)
Carefree Ultra Protection Liners
Goodnites (Walmart)
Prilosec OTC (Walmart)

Food
Benihana Birthday Dinner
Betty Crocker Cookie Mix House Party
Hershey's Kisses Cookie Exchange Party

Please call your local store or restaurant to confirm they are participating in these freebie events.

OCTOBER
Free Night of Theater (reserve your free pair of tickets)
17 - Lakeshore Learning Kid Crafts make a silly scarecrow 11-3
24 - Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic make a Frankenstring Magic Trick 10-11
31 - Michaels Halloween Event 10-2

Labels: Freebies

Today we are mourning the loss of my wonderful grandfather. He passed away last night very unexpectedly and our hearts are so heavy right now. Those of you on Facebook and Twitter who have left messages- I have received and read every single one! Thank you so much for thinking of us during this time and for your kind words.

My grandfather was a great man who loved the Lord with his whole heart. I know that he is in heaven and I am thankful he will not have to suffer anymore.

Please keep our family on your prayer list and thank you for being such wonderful friends to me!

Labels: Family

Using a pillow sham as a stroller blanket is the greatest idea ever (@ inspire company)

I love these hanging lantern ghosts (@ Skip to My Lou)

This Italian salad looks like a yummy addition to our pizza night (@ Good (& Cheap) Eats)

I love this fun pumpkin idea for toddlers (@ zakka life)

These Halloween treat bags are adorable (@ three pumpkins little)

I love this Sweet November inspired crocheted scarf (@ April Draven's Blog)

I want to try this recipe for Pumpkin Muffins (@ Chocolate on My Cranium)

I love these sweet little lunchbox napkins (@ Polka Dot Cottage)

I love this tip on peeling pears and these yummy pear recipes (@ Random Thoughts from the Zoo)

This idea for filling the window boxes with pumpkins is so festive (@ NewlyWoodwards)

I love this idea for using the delay function on your dishwasher to run after bath time (@ Parent Hacks)

I am in love with these dyed lace doilies for this fall party (@ Eddie Ross)

These personalized thank you's for gifts could not be more thoughtful (@ ohdeedoh)

I love these subtle Halloween decorations (@ The Shabby Nest)

This shadow puppet theater is simply amazing (@ Giver's Log)

This homemade apple butter would make a lovely hostess gift (@ The Farm Chicks)

Here is another great apple butter recipe, but this one is made in your slow cooker (@ Southern Grace Gourmet)

These pumpkin chocolate chunk muffins look like a delicious little fall treat (@ goodLife {eats})

I love this candle centerpiece using wine corks as a lovely display (@ Confessions of a Jersey Girl)

These beer bread pecan rolls that can be made quickly would be a great breakfast treat (@ Serious Eats)

I could probably eat an entire plate of these pumpkin whoopie pies (@ Bon Appetit)

This pumpkin coconut bread would make a fun fall snack (@ $5 Dinners)

These lemon poppy seed cookies look like a great snack for the kids (@ Food Blogga)

Labels: Favorites, Notebook

Today I am sitting in a home that has been greatly reduced of clutter. Three cars (front passenger seat, back row of seating, and trunk)... all filled to the brim with clutter from my home. Another load sits, waiting to be distributed to those I know that are in need right now.

It is as though I can hear the drawers in our home give audible sighs as I open them instead of groaning underneath the weight of random uselessness. There is some emptiness in places that once housed chaos.

Even the man of the house has noticed a difference around here. "This doesn't even look like our house!" he had exclaimed after car load #1 was removed. By car load #3 there was a sense of panic. "Will we have anything left? Please don't take my stuff!"

You may have been under the impression that I live in a clutter-free existence. I am afraid you would be wrong! What has been removed from my home?


- The purse collection, whittled down to two everyday purses and one special occasion purse. Each gently unloaded of four hundred lip glosses and hand lotions...two items which I never thought I had.

- The size zero, ones and some twos pants are now donated and no longer a painful reminder of the body that I once had. I don't have to try them on anymore and be disappointed. I remind myself that my size four body is a happier one and remember that my size zero body was when I was depressed and longing to get pregnant. I am the happy and proud mom of two beautiful children who love me if I am a size four or a size twenty-five. Go me!

- The collection of thrift store items that never really fit into my life. I confused my frugality for a need to deal seek and thrift seek all of the time. I can remind myself that I am maturing in my frugality and now know that I am saving a lot more if I don't seek the deals anymore. A scaled existence is far more frugal than even those items that seemed to cost pennies.

- The mismatched linens, table linens, and cups that gathered dust in my home. Now the space has been freed for the matched existence that I love. I don't have to shift the mismatched stuff to get the stuff I really adore. Hurray for space!

- Plastic. Goodbye promotional water bottles, plastic containers missing lids, random plastic clutter in my life. How refreshing to open a cupboard and not be attacked by a plastic monster.

- Stuff I have to dust. You will have to find a new place to live because I am tired of dusting and moving you around.


Here is my challenge, all neatly outlined, and what I was able to achieve this month:



Challenge: Reduce the clutter in our home. I planned to commit to take one car full (minimum) to the donation box each week until we have our clutter problems under control.


Did I meet the challenge?: Yes, I did! The first car load was easy to pull together, but each pile after that seemed more difficult. I had to really think about the things in our home and weigh their usefulness which took more time and thought then I had anticipated. I am very conscious of clutter and try to be careful about this so everything, at first, appeared quite useful to me.


How did it enrich myself/others?: The enrichment that reducing clutter has been immediately evident to me. For one, I am spending less time cleaning my home. When everything has a place and is useful to me, it is much easier to tidy up and maintain my home. The benefit to that is more time to do what I love...reading, knitting, and hanging out with my family.

The best part is that once you start decluttering, it can be difficult to stop. Suddenly I was dumping junk drawers and organizing seasonal clothing, tidying the basement, and clearing out the pantry. This organized living could become highly addictive!

We also enriched other families by making our donations to charity. I know that I am helping keep people employed at Goodwill and I know that the items I have set aside for those in need in our community will be put to good use. It is a fantastic feeling to bless others when we have been so blessed ourselves!

How I Plan to Continue the Challenge: I am going to be more aware of what I am bringing into my home and if I really need the items. I also plan to keep a bin in our garage going at all times to toss items in that don't add to the quality of my life.

Let's be honest though... I am the mother of two small children. It isn't just my clutter that I am trying to maintain. I know that is unlikely that I will have a clutter-free home for awhile. I am honest with myself though and know that as long as they have oodles of space to play and I do the best I can, that is the most important part. I just want to create a home that is lived in, loved, and maintain a space that we all can love and appreciate. It is a modest goal that I know I can accomplish!

Reward- The reward is the new space that I am living in and the reward of the time that I have reclaimed in the process!

Next Month's Challenge- I don't eat breakfast...ever. I can count on one hand the amount of breakfasts I have ate this year. This month, I plan to commit to eating something every single morning and see if it has any improvement on my day.

Want to take on a 30 Day Challenge of your own? Read more details about how these challenges can be beneficial and share with me one thing you would like to change this month!

Labels: 30 Day Challenge, Cleaning, Frugal, Homemaking, Mommy Time Management, Organizing, Things To Do

Welcome to the Apron Full of Giveaways! This is my little link list where you can share your giveaways that you are running on your blogs or find great contests to enter!

Our giveaway ends today for the 75 loaves of Sara Lee bread. 3 lucky winners will get 25 coupons to be put towards free bread and I don't want you to miss entering this one. Hurry over and enter today!

Our latest and greatest giveaway is for a Baby Bjorn Organic Baby Carrier With Carrier Cover. This carrier is valued at $200 and is a fantastic way to keep your baby close and snuggly with these chilly days ahead! Even if you aren't in the baby stage anymore, I guarantee that this would make the best baby shower gift, holiday gift, or donation to a women's shelter this year!

Below are the contest links to our contests and to yours! If you are hosting a contest please link it up below. Sorry, we aren't giving away the aprons just showcasing them! Please put your site name and then what type of contest you are hosting. For example, "MomAdvice (Children's Movies)."

Please let me know if you have any questions and good luck to each of you!

Labels: Giveaways

While my kids have been enjoying Thrifty Banana Cream Pie Smoothies with their peanut butter toast for breakfast, I have started making smoothies for myself as my post-workout treat!

Yes, I am proud to say that my 30 day exercise challenge is turning into a way of life for me. I have continued to try and exercise three to five days a week, but this last month I started to feel like I needed something to help keep my blood sugar level. I headed over to to the nutritional supplement store and picked up a container of Strawberry Creme whey protein to add to my smoothies.

Buying smoothies can be expensive, but making smoothies at home can be inexpensive. Not only am I saving by working out at home, but I have my own smoothie bar upstairs in my kitchen to keep expenses down.

I freeze my banana slices in a shallow dish and then scoop them into a freezer bag to add to these smoothies. I can buy a large container of low-fat strawberry yogurt at Walmart (Great Value Brand) for $1.89. This large container has enough in it for eight smoothies! The protein powder is $14.99 at The Vitamin Shoppe, but contains enough protein for 30 smoothies. After some tough calculator-crunching, I know that I can make a protein-packed delicious treat for roughly eighty cents! I would love to see where you can find a large smoothie for that price!

The protein powder is an added expense, but one that definitely leaves me feeling fuller for longer. Fitness Magazine had a great article this last month entitled, "Alternative Energy," focusing on the protein hype because fit women are now the fastest growing market for sports nutrition products. They covered everything from those expensive protein-packed bars to gels and the protein shakes.

How much protein does your body need to support an active lifestyle? Well, some mixes contain 40-50 grams, but ideally women only need 20-30 grams. According to this figure, you might want to check the back of the containers to insure you are getting the proper amount of protein and not just extra calories!

Despite sharing that a lot of protein is a lot of hype and can be satisfied by our normal healthy diets, it concluded that whey-protein powder is absorbed into your system more quickly than other forms of protein, which makes it useful in muscle recovery.

This scoop of protein powder has helped a lot with keeping my blood sugar levels steady and has even been a nice snack instead of reaching for a bag of chips. For me, it works, and is a fantastic reward for completing a workout. Paired with a favorite read or a soak in the tub, it is something that makes me look forward to the completion of my workout. You could say that our blender is now one of our most used appliances!


Protein Packed Strawberry & Banana Smoothies

1/2 cup sliced ripe banana
1/2 cup low-fat or non-fat strawberry yogurt
1/2 cup milk
4 ice cubes
1 scoop of strawberry-flavored protein powder

Arrange banana slices in a single layer on a baking sheet, and freeze until firm (about 1 hour). Place frozen banana and remaining ingredients in a blender. Process until smooth.

What do you eat after you work out? Do you buy alternative protein products to feed your active lifestyle? I would love to hear your perspective on this!

Labels: Mommy Time Management, Recipes

It is my favorite day of the week and hopefully yours too! Freebies 4 Mom is sharing their list of great freebies and I hope you will be able to cash in on all of the latest freebies of the week. If you want to stay current on all of the freebies, be sure to visit Freebies 4 Mom daily for all of the great deals and freebies on the web. Thank you, Heather, for all you do!

We have a lot of great stuff on our site this week too! We are giving away 75 loaves of Sara Lee bread, sharing all of the latest giveaways, showcasing how moms can make reading a priority in their lives, and our new favorite fall recipe....pumpkin pancakes!

Have a great weekend, everyone!


Health & Beauty
Herbal Essences (Facebook Giveaway 75,000 bottles)
L'Oreal Everpure and Revitalift (under "My L'Oreal" and "Special Offers")
Burt's Bees Acne Solutions

Food
Que Rica Vida (General Mills magazine with coupons)

Upcoming Freebie Events:
Please call your local store or restaurant to confirm they are participating in these freebie events.

OCTOBER
Free Night of Theater (reserve your free pair of tickets)
10 - Lakeshore Learning Kid Crafts make a pumpkin puppet 11-3
10 - Cesar Bistro Entree Giveaway (first 1,500 to register)
10 - Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic make a ball toss 10-11
10 - Walgreens Neutrogena SaturDate with Beauty 10-5
12 - Spaghetti Warehouse free dinner for those named "Chris"
24 - Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic make a Frankenstring Magic Trick 10-11
31 - Michaels Halloween Event 10-2

Labels: Freebies

I am off traveling today so I won't have time to complete a notebook experiment! I hope you will enjoy all of these fun links while I am away today! Thank you so much for your visits- they mean so much!

I love all of these useful household management notebook printables (@ Organizing Your Way)

I like this space-saving inspiration when you have two kids in one room (@ ohdeedoh)

We are going to have to make some of these mod pumpkin ornaments for our house (@ Hostess With the Mostess)

I want to try some of these apple pie cookies (@ Baking Bites)

I like this idea for a ghostly garden graveyard (@ Alpha Mom)

This Dollar Store scarf turned into baby leggings is so smart and thrifty (@ Obsessively Stitching)

This hamburger stroganoff looks like a great weeknight meal (@ Simply Recipes)

I love these ideas for packing a great lunchbox (@ Rookie Moms)

This laundry room transformation is so inspiring (@ Ask Kari & Kijsa)j

This apple crinkle looks like a yummy fall dessert (@ eat at home)

I love these ideas for making your own pumpkin puree (@ Gingerbread Snowflakes)

Labels: Favorites, Notebook

Welcome to the Apron Full of Giveaways! This is my little link list where you can share your giveaways that you are running on your blogs or find great contests to enter!

Our giveaway ends today for the chance to win a $25 gift card to Bonefish Grill. The entries are low on this one which really increases your chances to win a fantastic little night away with your spouse. Remember, even if it isn't something you could use, it would make a fantastic holiday gift for someone you love!

Our brand new giveaway this week is a HUGE one! I am giving away 75 loaves of Sara Lee bread. 3 lucky winners will get 25 coupons to be put towards free bread and I don't want you to miss entering this one. Hurry over and enter today!

Below are the contest links to our contests and to yours! If you are hosting a contest please link it up below. Sorry, we aren't giving away the aprons just showcasing them! Please put your site name and then what type of contest you are hosting. For example, "MomAdvice (Children's Movies)."

Please let me know if you have any questions and good luck to each of you!

Labels: Giveaways

I have been really trying to devote more time to reading in the evening instead of watching television. I have the tendency to become a television junkie when the new fall season starts, but this year, I seem more interested in reading. We have a fantastic library system and I am definitely cashing in and spending some time under my favorite cozy quilt to get some reading done.

Setting up a book basket in our front room just for me has been a great way to incorporate reading back into my life. I visit the library for a little me time every other week and stock up on great reads. With borrowing from the library, there is no guilt if I decide that I don't like a book... I just return it for the next unfortunate soul.

Many times I hear from people that they don't have time to read. I have found that I can usually carve a little time out for just about anything in my life, but I have to make it a priority in order to make the time for it.

Take advantage of reading windows- Reading for me is carved into that tiny window of time between getting one child off to school and then the other. I find a window when we have time with the television off and the kids are spending their quiet time reading or drawing. Another window is generously given to me by my husband when he completes the kid's evening routine and I disappear on the couch. These tiny pockets of time are how it works for me now. I look forward to having bigger windows of opportunity in the future, but I crave these little pockets of time for me!

Join or start a book club- My book club has been the biggest motivator to read at least one book each month. Being in a group can challenge you to read books that you would have never read before. I look forward to my book club each month and I love the books that I have totally loved that would have never made my reading list.

Turn the television and computer off- I know it is hard, but if I keep the television and computer off in the evening, I know that I can spend that time reading instead. Find a quiet space in your home that is television and computer free and designate that as your reading spot. Encourage your other family members to do the same!

My scaled down social networking probably has not boosted traffic to the site or made me the social media maven I sometimes wish I could be, but boy, do I feel a sense of satisfaction when I read a book!

Create your own book basket- Who says book baskets are just for kids? Fill a basket up for yourself and make a regularly scheduled date with yourself to visit the library. Put it on the calendar and savor those moments of peace choosing great books to read.

Do it for your kids- When my kids see me digging into my book basket, they want to dig into theirs too. Think of what an incredible example you are when you are showing them how much fun it is to read. It is through your example that they will learn a love of reading!

Read what you want- We have enough pressures on us as mothers, but to be pressured to always be reading award-winning books doesn't have to be one of them. If your life is full of stress and chaos, a good chick lit book might be just what the doctor ordered. I like to read one heavy book and one light book and alternate them. When my children were smaller all I wanted to read was something that would make me laugh. No matter what you read... just keep reading!



What if you don't have a great library system? Well, there are some great reading alternatives out there! Here are a few book resources that I have gathered for the book lovers of the world:

GoodReads or Shelfari- I use GoodReads to keep track of all of the things that I am reading or plan to read. I am not good about remembering the books I have read or that I would like to read in the future. This site helps me keep track of my impressions of books and keep my bookshelves fully stocked with the books I am really interested in reading. I love to keep a pad of paper with me in my purse or make notes into my cell phone when I am at the bookstore so if I happen upon a book I am interested in, I can jot down a note so I can pick it up at my local library.

BookCrossing- This site offers a fun way for you to clear out your bookshelves. The idea is simple, but so fun. Just put a tag within your book to track it and release your book into the wild, which just means leave it somewhere where someone else can find it (coffee shops, doctor's offices, schools, etc.). When someone finds a book with a BookCrossing ID number in it, they can enter that code into the site and report where the book has moved to. It is a fun way to track where your books have traveled and see how far they can go.

Library Elf- This program helps you keep track of your library materials so you won't get socked with late fees. Elf is an Internet-based tool for keeping track of what's due, overdue and ready for pickup. Reminders are sent when the user wants it -- before items are due (up to seven days advance notice, weekly notice or everyday reminders). For my local friends, South Bend is not currently participating, but the Elkhart Library is. The basic membership to Library Elf is free.

Frugal Reader, Paperback Swap, & Bookmooch- Just three of many sites where you can exchange books for free. You simply sign up for a membership and list the books on your bookshelf. You can then browse the books from other members and make a request to receive a book. When you are done with the book, you can list it back on the site or keep the book. New members start out usually with credits to get started on exchanging books. The more you ship and share, the more credits you recive to get more books.

Bookins- This is another great site where you can not only swap books, but also movies. Their system will automatically arrange for shipments from you to one member and from a third member back to you, and so on. You never have to contact anyone, there is no bidding, and there are no hassles of dealing with different traders and personalities for each exchange. The shipping charges are always a flat $4.49 for the service. You can keep what you get or exchange it again when you are done.

SwapSimple- This is a site where you can list textbooks, books, games or DVDs. Begin by listing what you have to be available to others. Right when you list an item, they will figure out what it's current market value is, and award you 20% of it's value up front for your use. You get the remaining 80% when you send your item to another swapper. This means you can list items, and get items immediately!

Amazon's Free Kindle Downloads- For those that have moved towards the electronic books, Amazon has books available to download for free through February 28th. Be sure to snag these books and save!

I challenge you to bring reading back into your life- even if it is the teeniest pane of a window and even if the literature is lighthearted and non-award-worthy!



These are a few of the books that I have been working on these last two months...

The Penny Pinchers Club by Sarah Strohmeyer

I absolutely adored this book. If you are a Sophie Kinsella fan, you will really love this book and the hilarity that ensues.

Kat is an assistant to an interior designer barely making any money at all. She doesn't seem to notice that she is spending more money than she has until she is faced with the stunned resolution that her marriage is falling apart.

On the advice of her lawyer, Kat is advised to begin saving a minimum of $500 a week to build a nest egg for herself so that she can handle the financial blow of the divorce and beginning to live on her own.

She joins the local Penny Pinchers Club and vows to stop shopping and start saving to reach her financial goals. She learns important lessons in bulk shopping, saving on her electric bill, and how much sweet rewards are savored when only enjoyed occasionally.

The life lessons build up to a great finish where Kat makes a discovery about herself and who she can be through her penny pinching efforts.
The Pretend Wife by Bridget Asher

This was a really great chick lit book about a woman who offers to be a pretend wife to her old college flame. Elliott's mother is passing away and she is worried that her son will not be taken care of when she dies.

In a drunken pact, Gwen and her husband Peter, decide she can be his pretend wife for one weekend for his mother.

Of course, the old feelings resurface and Gwen has to choose between her predictably normal marriage and falling in love with her whole heart.

There is a great little twist at the end and it is a fast read that I devoured in two days!
The Last Bridge by Teri Coyne

It has been a long time since a book kept me up all night, but I could not put this book down. Just as a warning, the book does have rough language and abuse in it. If you can't handle that sort of thing, just skip over this one!

"The Last Bridge," jumps back and forth from the past and the present, sharing the difficult life of the main character Cat. Cat suffers through terrible emotional, physical, and sexual abuse at the hands of her father and escapes by sketching a comic book version of herself escaping "The Hand" of abuse.

She begins a relationship with a boy named Addison who loves her unconditionally. Although Addison cannot protect her from the abuse of her father, he makes her feel beautiful and loved. There love is a secret one as her father's abusive reign will not allow anyone else to love his daughter.

She escapes town, leaving with a huge secret, and returns as a grown women after learning of her mother's suicide. She is faced with all of the people from her past and her life is falling apart from alcoholism and the year's of brutal abuse she has endured. She is now faced with discovering a cryptic goodbye note from her mother, the demons of her childhood, and all of the people who could not help her out of that abuse.

I don't want to give away any of the plot because what makes this book so great is the many twists and turns that I did not expect. If you are a Jodi Picoult fan, I think you will appreciate the unexpected twists and the descriptive use of language that Coyne uses. Her knack for storytelling will immediately suck you in.

I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride, but I had to know how it would all turn out. An excellent read and I can't wait to read more from this author!


The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain

I have never read a book by Diane Chamberlain, but if this is any indication of her writing style, I am permanently hooked on this author.

This book focuses on a sixteen year old girl who has lost her mother and seems to be very alone in the world. She works as a waitress and waits on the table of a handsome young man who sweeps her off of her feet. Despite their age difference, he seems to be very taken with her and she is head over heels in love with him.

He makes a confession that he is on a mission to release his sister from jail for a wrongfully accused crime. He asks her to partner with him and his brother to free their sister from jail. All she will have to do is to sit with the senator's wife, whom they plan to kidnap, as bait to get the local senator to agree to release their sister.

The crime goes completely wrong and forever alters the path of CeeCee Wilkes. She is forced to change her identity and lives with a horrible secret of what has happened during that fateful night that she assisted with the kidnapping.

This one had me on the edge of my seat and I could not put it down until I knew what had happened. It is one of the best books that I have read in a long time and I would highly recommend it!

The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

Two families awaken to find their daughters missing in a small Iowa town. The girls are inseparable best friends, both vanishing into the early morning light without a trace.

The two girls become fast friends as Calli suffers from mutism that is brought on by a traumatic event from her childhood. While Calli is unable to talk she finds her voice at school through her best friend Petra.

When the girls go missing, both family's lives are intertwined as they search for their daughters and a case of the whodunit leaves you guessing throughout the book.

Do you make time to read? What are some books you have read lately that you could recommend?

Labels: Books, Entertainment, Frugal, Mommy Time Management, Motherhood, Organizing, Things To Do

I experienced quite the thrill this week at the grocery store and found a fully stocked aisle filled with canned pumpkin. Are these shortages real or do they do this to inflict pain on those of us intent on doing our fall baking a tad earlier than October 1st? Regardless, the pumpkin food trend continues in our house with a new recipe to add into our family rotation and we are thankful to have our pantry filled to the brim with cans of pumpkin to make our creations.

These pumpkin pancakes are truly light and fluffy with just the perfect balance of pumpkin and spices. I have never experienced a more perfect pancake and a drizzle of syrup with butter makes these a delicious morning treat on a cool autumn day.

See how perfectly those pancakes look? That is because I did not flip them. I am, perhaps, the worst pancake flipper in the world. My pancakes are weird shapes and are even peeled from the griddle in chunks.

We have found my husband's calling in the kitchen though and he is now the official pancake flipper in the house. He even cranks out shapes and spells things for the kids. The love it and I enjoy finally getting to enjoy a hot brunch with them instead of eating alone... like on waffle days!

By the way, a huge thank you to everyone for making this blog a place to visit for pumpkin ideas! Our Creamy Pumpkin Pasta was one of the 50 most bookmarked sites on the web one day on Delicious and that was a fantastic surprise! Seeing my recipes featured on Craftzine is such a highlight too! Thank you so much for sharing and trying these recipes!


Light & Fluffy Pumpkin Pancakes

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pinch clove
1 1/4 cup low-fat milk
1/3 cup canned pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 egg


Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, spices and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl whisk together milk, pumpkin, melted butter, and egg. Fold mixture into dry ingredients. Spray or grease a skillet and heat over medium heat: pour in 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. Cook pancakes about 3 minutes per side. This recipe makes six 6-inch pancakes.

Side Note- This can easily be doubled and frozen or stored in the refrigerator for a great breakfast later in the week.

Labels: Recipes

Thanks so much for visiting us each week for our weekly Freebie Friday list provided by Freebies 4 Mom. Be sure to visit Heather's site to discover how you can get a $10 rebate on Kellogg's cereal, get Huggies reward points, and find new coupons for your next grocery trip.

On MomAdvice you can enter to win a Bonefish Grill Gift Card, score free birthday or holiday gifts doing your normal shopping, check out the latest round of giveaways, and fix yourself a big bowl of Creamy Pumpkin Pasta. I hope you will enjoy browsing around the site this week!

Health & Beauty

Aveeno Nourish hair care
Nature Made TripleFlex (Costco)
Kotex Overnight (All You Magazine)

Food

Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs (submit product review video)
Starbucks Free Drink on your Birthday
Great American Cookie free cookie (sign-up for emails)
Hunts Backyard Garden Fresh House Party

Upcoming Freebie Events:
Please call your local store or restaurant to confirm they are participating in these freebie events.

OCTOBER
Free Night of Theater (reserve your free pair of tickets)
1 - Mrs. Fields Free Cookie Day 11-1
2-5 - Starbucks Via Taste Challenge
3 - The Home Depot Kids Workshop make a firehouse bank 9-Noon
3 - Lakeshore Learning Kid Crafts make a catch the bead game 11-3
3 - Cesar Bistro Entree Giveaway (first 1,500 to register)
10 - Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic make a ball toss 10-11
10 - Walgreens Neutrogena SaturDate with Beauty 10-5
24 - Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic make a Frankenstring Magic Trick 10-11

Labels: Freebies

I just want to say a special thank you to each of you for visiting my website and sharing it with your friends, family, and your own readers. We had another great month and it is all thanks to you. I hope to continue offering support through our site, lots of giveaways for our readers, and a place where you feel valued and cared for. If there is anything you would like to see on here, please contact me (amy@momadvice.com) and let me know what you would like to see in the upcoming year.

Don't forget, you can subscribe to my feeds and never miss another thing on our site again! We have a landing page where it makes it easy to subscribe to our blogs and you can even subscribe to my article feed.

This month's top referrers were:

1. Freebies 4 Mom
2. Craftzine- Pumpkin Pasta
3. I'm An Organizing Junkie
4. Facebook
5. Hoosier Homemade
6. Tip Nut
7. A Soft Place to Land
8. Craftzine- Spiced Pumpkin Waffles
9. Twitter
10. Jealous Hands


Please take some time this month to check out each of their sites. They are amazing at what they do and we are thankful that we have such great supporters!

This month's top articles & entries were:

1. Deliciously Spiced Pumpkin Waffles
2. Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
3. 5 Quick Dinners for Busy Weeknights
4. Classic Slow Cooker Entertaining: Pot Roast Italiano
5. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs Movie Review
6. Great Blogs That Moms Should Read
7. 30 Day Challenges to Improve Your Life
8. Storing Homemade Bread & Bread Ingredients
9. Family Game Nights Reign Supreme
10. Notebook Experiments: Will We Like a Chicken Cooked in Milk?
10. All Knitted Up: Sweet Little Baby Blankets

Labels: Monthly Recaps