Hello, friends, and Happy Freebie Friday from myself & Freebies 4 Mom. Also, Heather is giving away two $100 Borders gift cards, so be sure to check that out.

Health & Beauty

Always Infinity (Walmart)

Kotex (Kroger)

Pampers Extra Protection Size 5 (Walmart)



Food

Steaz Organic Iced Teaz (printable coupon redeemable at Target)

Kashi TLC Granola bar

Kefir Probiotic Wellness Bar (for Facebook Fans)

Entertainment

Robb Report magazine (1 free issue from ValueMags)

Wine Spectator magazine (from Rewards Gold)

Home & Garden

Mueller's Pasta Meal Planner

Rowenta Art of Ironing DVD

TerraCycle Huggies Plastic Packaging Recycling



Upcoming Freebie Events:

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


NOVEMBER

Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland begins (free 4x6 Santa photo)

20 - Disney Store Pajama Party storytime, games, snacks 5:30 & 7

21 - Polar Express Pajama Party at Borders storytime, activities, hot cocoa 11 am

21- Lakeshore Learning Kid Crafts make a Terrific Turkey Centerpiece 11-3

21 - Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic make a Snowman 10-11

21 - Wahoo's Free Meal print the ad

DECEMBER

5 - The Home Depot Kids Workshop make a wagon 9-12

5 - Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic make a Gingerbread House 10-11

I want to knit this infinity scarf (@ tentenknits)

This hearty beef stew looks like a great recipe to make in my slow cooker (@ Jolly Mom)

This is a great step-by-step tutorial on drawing a turkey (@ Art Projects for Kids)

I had no idea how easy it could be to make homemade butter (@ Down to Earth)

When the holiday knitting is done, I plan to knit for this cause (@ my happy little life)

This make-ahead turkey idea will make Thanksgiving so much easier for families (@ The Finer Things in Life)

These framed silhouette words are beautiful (@ Crafty Nest)

This Christmas tree wall decoration would be a fun project to do with the kids (@ Craft Projects)

I bet my kiddos would love these banana cinnamon waffles (@ Jersey Girl Cooks)

These Oreo Cupcakes look like a yummy treat (@ The Idea Room)

I really like this DIY leaf mobile (@ design sponge)

This roast turkey tutorial will be helpful for Thanksgiving (@ Home Ec 101)

I adore these homemade party hats (@ Prudent Baby)

I like this festive idea for decorating the family photos for a birthday party (@ ohdeedoh)

These velcro catch balls would be a fun and frugal craft to do with the kids (@ CRAFT)

I will have to try this recipe for white enchiladas (@ eat at home)

These scrunchy gathered scarfs are gorgeous and thrifty (@ Hope Studios)

This homemade snowman kit is adorable (@ Make it Do)

This caramel apple cider would make a fun full treat to drink (@ Baking Bites)

These braised short ribs do look heavenly (@ The Pioneer Woman)

I want to try this recipe for homemade rosemary focaccia (@ cathie filian)

This gluten-free and dairy-free waffle recipe is a great one for my friends that suffer from food allergies (@ I'm An Organizing Junkie)

My kids would love coloring & painting these mini-paintings (@ inspired ideas)

I like these cheap ideas for winterizing your home (@ Life Hacker)

These homemade baby legs are adorable (@ Little Birdie Secrets)

This fabric pumpkin tutorial is so great (@ Thompson Family-Life)

Labels: Favorites, Notebook

My favorite gift to give and to receive around the holidays are books for my children. I love seeing my sweet kids curled up with a good book and enjoying a quiet moment reading. Thanks to our frequent library trips and making our own reading a priority, I have raised two readers with ferocious appetites for a good book. I am so proud!

This is our list, created with my children, of our favorite books that we have read this year.



1.) Alice the Fairy by David Shannon- My daughter's favorite book this year has been, "Alice the Fairy." I had found a paperback edition at my son's book fair and the pages have already been lovingly worn after being read almost every single day by myself or by her.

Alice considers herself a temporary fairy because she has not gone to fairy school yet to become a permanent fairy. Her super fairy powers include changing her dress colors (by spilling her juice) and making cookies mine (by eating them). Fairies never eat food that has been poisoned by the "wicked duchess" (broccoli served by her mother) and she has yet to learn the one super fairy power that her mother wishes she did...making clothes dance away into the hamper.

This book will make you giggle out loud and has the sense of humor and comedic writing that David Shannon is known for. If you are at the library, just pick up every book by this author and enjoy every single book he has written! (Amazon Price- $11.55)



2.) Olivia Helps with Christmas by Ian Falconer- Last year one of my last minute holiday purchases for the kids included the book, "Olivia Helps with Christmas." This immediately became an instant holiday classic in the Clark house and I know that your children will love it just as much as we have. It was the book that we kept out on the coffee table that got lots of giggles from grandparents and children alike.

This book focuses on all of the holiday traditions and planning that the family does to get ready for the holiday festivities. Olivia helps her mother by setting the holiday table (by removing the top of the Christmas tree for a centerpiece), burning the holiday cookies, and overfeeding the baby (until he pukes).

More than that, it perfectly captures the nervous excitement that children go through waiting for a visit from Saint Nick and the disappointment with those boring holiday gifts. I guarantee that this will be a book that you read over and over again- the perfect addition to any holiday book basket! (Amazon Price- $11.10)


3.) Dinosaur Vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea- One of my son's favorite books this year is, "Dinosaur Vs. Bedtime" and I am sure it will get a giggle or two out of you too. This book is ideal for a beginning reader or for a child with a short attention span.

The book is a simple concept, can a dinosaur conquer and win matches against anything from a bowl full of spaghetti to a room full of talking grown-ups? In each round, the dinosaur wins with a giant, "ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!"

He conquers everything there is to conquer, but then has to face his toughest match yet... bedtime! Will he ever win it? As the dinosaur winds down, even he admits that bedtime is just one thing he can't conquer.

This is a fantastic bedtime story that is nice and short...with a goodnight and sweet dreams finish! (Amazon Price- $10.87)

4) Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems- Our family is in love with Mo Willems! My son loves his easy readers and my daughter adores the Knuffle Bunny series. He is one of those author's that has a fun book for everyone in your family.

This year our new favorite book was, "Naked Mole Rate Gets Dressed." If the title doesn't make you laugh, then this book might not be for you!

Wilbur is a naked mole rat who doesn't like being...so naked. He loves to wear clothes and adds variety into his wardrobe with everything from his space suit to his tuxedo. He hates feeling naked, but no one in his naked rat community agrees.

The naked mole rats decide to have a town meeting with the most naked mole rat of them all.. Grand-pah. Much to the town's surprise, Grand-pah arrives in his own seersucker suit to address the issue at hand and the town realizes that sometimes it might be okay to be dressed. (Amazon Price- $11.55)
5) Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann & Elizabeth Kann- My daughter's favorite colors in the world right now are pink and purple. Luckily, there is a book out there for a child that is obsessed with pink, with purple, and even with gold.

Pinkalicious is a book about a little girl that is obsessed with pink. Everything she uses and eats must be pink which leads to a horrible case of pinkitis, a condition that turns her physically pink. Is too much of pink a bad thing? This cautionary tale shares how even our favorite things in the world are best in moderation.

The book is a delight for the eyes and perfect for the perfectly pink princess in your life (Amazon Price- $10.52)


6.) Ladybug Girl & Bumblebee Boy by David Soman- If you are not acquainted with the original, "Ladybug Girl," be sure to check out that book, but for a household that has both boys and girls, the new, "Ladybug Girl & Bumblebee Boy" strikes the perfect balance.

Ladybug Girl is an endearing little girl who is all about girl power! She is a positive little girl that can do anything including counting to infinity and jumping over sidewalk cracks. When her mom brings her to the park she is unable to figure out how her and her friend Sam can play together. Noticing his yellow and black striped shirt, they decide that the he can be bumblebee boy and they can save the day together. As other children want to join in, they give them their own character names and Ladybug Girl realizes that they can do so much more good working together as a team rather than separately.

This is a book that not only your girls will love, but your boys can love too! Don't overlook this book for your family (Amazon Price- $11.55)



7) Scribbles: A Really Giant Drawing & Coloring Book- Want to get your child to read and use their imagination too? The Scribbles drawing book is the perfect book to encourage your child to read and draw together.

Instead of having you simply color, each page tells you something that it would like you to draw. One page will tell him that the alligator is angry and have him fill in his face. Other pictures are exactly alike, but may request colors and patterns to make each of the pictures different. My favorite series is a simple line that is drawn and then it asks you to draw different animals all sitting on the pole. It is truly the best drawing book I have ever come across for allowing children to use their own creativity and imagination to fill in and create pictures.

The book is very durable and it is truly giant. My son still has many more pages to do and with the durability factor, I plan to tuck this away with his age on it as a keepsake of his creative talent at this age. Because the child is doing all of the drawing, you could buy the same book again another year and see what different things they come up with. (Amazon Price- $13.59)


8) Charlie & Lola: We Are Extremely Very Good Recyclers by Lauren Child- My kids both really love the Charlie & Lola series. This book in particular is a new favorite as it teaches children the importance of recycling and how you can do your part.

Charlie convinces his little sister, Lola, to recycle her old toys instead of throwing them away. When Lola discovers there is a recycling contest at school that can earn the school a free tree, she begins learning and doing her part to do everything she can to recycle.

The book is printed on FSC-approved paper and includes recycling tips as well as a tree poster just like Lola’s, so kids can keep track of their recycling projects and help to save the planet all on their own. (Amazon-$11.55)


9) Finn Throws a Fit by David Elliott- Do you deal with crazy toddler tantrums in your house? We have had all too many in our home with our children, and maybe that is why this book is so laugh-out-loud funny.

Finn loves peaches, but on this particular day, he hates peaches. Finn goes into a tantrum that is unlike any other tantrum you have ever seen. The illustrations of his tantrum will make you and your children laugh from the bottom of your toes. His tears flood the floor so much that his mom has to stand on a table so she doesn't drown, his tantrum creates real storms and avalanches, and the drawings set the book up perfectly for the perfect tantrum storm that is brewing in Finn's house.

This is a great book for kids, but a fantastic gift to give to a mom that is dealing with those terrible twos and threes that will shed a little humor onto a stressful parenting situation. (Amazon Price- $11.55)


10) Twimericks by Lou Brooks- This is a book that I actually received as a sample copy to review, but will be a fast favorite in our household. Our son is in first grade and loves telling jokes, tongue twisters, and riddles. If you have a child like that in your house, then this book is for them!

Twimericks are what happens when tongue twisters crash into limericks. It is an adorable book that will be perfect for a long car trip or read aloud and passed around at your child's birthday party.

The illustrations are deliciously old-fashioned and funny which make this book already look like an instant classic. Don't forget to put your name in the cover where it says, This Beak BooLongs To..." Seriously hilarious and highly addictive, this book is perfect for children and adults alike (Amazon Price- $8.95)


What are your kid's favorite books this year? Please share your favorite picks of the year here!

Labels: Books, Gifts, Holidays, Parenting, Things To Do

Thanks so much for swinging by for our Apron Full of Giveaways! Each week we share a link list of great contests to enter and share about our own latest giveaways.

When I promise a giveaway extravaganza, I try to deliver! I got up at five in the morning on Sunday to crank out SIX brand new giveaways along with the two other giveaways that are running from this past week. Four hours later, everything was set and ready to go for the week! That means you have EIGHT opportunities to win.

You will need to visit each of the giveaway links below to get the full scoop on these giveaways. What I can tell you is that we are giving away a pair of Timberland PRO Renova Shoes (valued at $80-100), a pair of Sorel Hoonah Boots (valued at $180), an entire year's worth of Clean + Green cleaning products for your home, a $100 Visa Gift Card to spend on your holiday shopping from Scott's, a Gracie Madame Alexander Doll from Avon, and a Color Me Christmas Gift Box filled with bath products from Lush. To top it off, we still have the $300 Select Comfort True Silver Sheets and the Ford Warrior Gift Basket giveaway, both which will be closing at 8PM this evening. PHEW! I hope you know how much we appreciate you visiting and the rewards for being a loyal reader!

My goal is to help you have the best Christmas ever and we promise a ton more 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

We are continuing our Gifts You Can Make series with one of my favorite gifts to give...bath salts and soaks. Don't forget to also visit last week's tutorial where I shared two of my favorite hot drink mixes to make.

Making bath salts and soaks are easy and require little effort on your part. I love to make a giant batch of these and keep them on hand for unexpected holiday occasions like hostess gifts or as a return gift for someone that may have been forgotten on the holiday gift-giving list. These are a thoughtful gift just perfect for a friend that needs a little rest and relaxation during the busy holiday season.

Today I wanted to share with you my favorite homemade oatmeal bath. I call it Oatmeal Cookies & Milk because it blends together the ingredients of an oatmeal cookie with powdered milk to make a soft & soothing bath for anyone who has sensitive skin.

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Oatmeal Cookies & Milk Bath

1 cup cornstarch
2 cups powdered milk
1/2 cup oatmeal (not instant)
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix all ingredients in blender or food processor until it is a fine powder. Just add 2 tablespoons of the mixture to your bathwater for a soothing bath.

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Once the oatmeal mixture is ground up, it will look just like this. I dumped the entire amount into one jar and it filled it to the top, with just a little leftover.


This homemade oatmeal bath can be packaged with a spoon, purchased from your local thrift store, and a little holiday ribbon. How easy and simple is that?

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The next gift I want to showcase is a very festive jar of Peppermint Bath Salts. I took a picture of all of the ingredients needed so you can see exactly what they look like when you go to the store. Don't you hate it when you can't picture what you should be looking for?

The kosher salt is over in the baking aisle with the regular salt, the Epsom Salts should be over in the first aid supplies of your superstore or drugstore, and the glycerin will be behind the drugstore counter where you pick up your prescriptions (and can also be used for your giant bubbles in the summer).

Now head to your craft store and go into the aisle where the soap making and candle making supplies are. There you will find colorants to dye your bath salts (you need the package with red in it) and the essential oils needed (for this craft it will be the eucalyptus mint). The last thing you can buy is some peppermint striped ribbon or whatever is on sale and festive will totally do the job!

As for jars, I found those at Big Lots and you can get a dozen of them for $6.50 or check the canning supplies section of Walmart (our store was out). I hope that helps with your shopping list and helps with the visuals for what to look for!

You will need two big bowls for this and a giant spoon to mix with. Don't you love crafts that don't require a lot of equipment? Now, empty one bag of Epsom Salts into one bowl. Next add 3 cups of your kosher salt, and stir well. Then stir in 1/4 teaspoon glycerin and eight drops of your eucalyptus essential oil. Mix well.

In your second large mixing bowl, empty one bag of Epsom Salts and add 3 cups of your kosher salt. Stir well. Next stir in 1/4 teaspoon glycerin and eight drops of your eucalyptus essential oil. To this bowl, you will add fifteen drops of your red colorant. This will give you a pale and pretty pink bowl of salts. Mix this side really well to incorporate the coloring throughout this batch.



Now grab a 1/2 cup measuring cup and start doing layers to create the peppermint candy look in the jar- a layer of white, a layer of pink, a layer of white, and then a layer of pink. I would recommend filling them on a cookie sheet to catch any runaway salts and to make clean-up a little bit easier. Once everything is filled, you should have 12 jars full and even a little leftover for yourself.

Now tie your gift up with a little festive ribbon and a beautiful gift tag instructing the recipient to put three tablespoons of salts in the bathtub to enjoy a relaxing holiday bath.

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Candy Cane Bath Salts

12 tall jelly (12-ounce) canning jars with lid and rings
2 bags of Epsom Salts, 4 pounds each (approximately 16 cups)
4 lb kosher salt (approximately 6 cups is needed, buy two boxes and cook with the rest)
1⁄2 teaspoon glycerin, divided
16 drops eucalyptus peppermint essential oil
15 drops red colorant

Empty one bag of Epsom Salts into large mixing bowl. Add 3 cups kosher salt, stir well. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon glycerin and eight drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Mix well. In second large mixing bowl, empty one bag of Epsom Salts, and add 3 cups kosher salt. Stir well. Add 1/4 teaspoon glycerin, eight drops of eucalyptus essential oil, and red colorant. Stir until completely blended. Color should be even. Using a 1/2 cup measuring cup and fill canning jars at an angle, layer salts in jars, alternating white and colored mixtures.

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Just to make your gifts a tad more festive and to ease the burden of making those gifts, we have included free gift tags to download and print for the holiday season!

Free & Beautiful Holiday Printable Gift Tags



Luckily for you, there will be just a tad too much of both of these bath mixtures to fit into the jars and you will be forced to partake of your efforts. Throw whatever is left in that food processor or bowl and put it into your bath. Now fix yourself a cup of vanilla chai tea, light a candle, and smuggle in a good book or magazine. Promptly, lock the door and pretend like you have no idea how that happened when everyone starts knocking. Enjoy a moment to yourself and relax, you deserve it!

Labels: Gifts, Holidays, Recipes, Things To Do

Hello, friends, and Happy Freebie Friday from myself & Freebies 4 Mom. This week you will not want to miss Heather's 50 free photo cards freebie as I know it is something that I will be cashing in on to save this holiday season. This one is COMPLETELY free since shipping is covered too (good thru Nov. 30). Hurray for Freebies 4 Mom!

This week on MomAdvice we are kicking off our homemade gifts series with vanilla chai tea and hot cocoa mix you can make, a special guest post sharing ways to cut back in the kitchen, my Thanksgiving round-up of make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes, and a huge notebook this week full of ideas to make this season a little merrier.

This week we are giving away Select Comfort True Silver Sheets ($300 Value) and a Ford Warrior Gift Basket filled with great items for the gift-giving season. The Apron Full of Giveaways will offer a great round-up of the best contests this week on the web!



Health & Beauty

Huggies Little Movers Diaper (Walmart)
My Glow fragrance by Jennifer Lopez
Nature Made TripleFlex (Costco)

Food

Organic Valley $10 Coupon Book


50 Free Photo Cards Shipped Free (SeeHere by Fujifilm)
$5 off $5 Hallmark Coupon (inside Dec. magazines)
Disney Digital Books (7 book free trial, no credit card required)
Blockbuster Express Free Movie Rental (use code GT11A)
Wood magazine (3 issues from ValueMags)
Sport Fishing magazine (1 issues from ValueMags)

NOVEMBER

Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland begins (free 4x6 Santa photo)
14 - Fancy Nancy Fest at Borders storytime, activities, raffle 11 am
14 - Lakeshore Learning Kid Crafts make a Veteran's Day Flag 11-3
14 - Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic make a #48 Garage 10-11
20 - Disney Store Pajama Party storytime, games, snacks 5:30 & 7
21 - Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic make a Snowman 10-11

DECEMBER

5 - The Home Depot Kids Workshop make a wagon 9-12

Labels: Freebies

Over the years, I have shared many ideas that can be incorporated into your Thanksgiving planning. Today I just wanted to recap some of the best ideas and recipes that have been shared in one spot for your planning needs.



I had found a recipe for mashed potatoes that not only freeze beautifully, but they also can be reheated on low in the slow cooker. Both of these qualities make them a winner because I can keep the oven freed up for the other dishes and I can make them early.

Here is my recipe, adapted to our personal taste, perfect for any holiday get together! These are creamy and have a hint of tang to them from the sour cream. Sprinkle with a little paprika, if you so desire, and enjoy the convenience of pulling these out of your freezer for this holiday season.


Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Serves 15

5 pounds of potatoes
1 block (8 oz) of low-fat cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup low fat sour cream
4 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup milk (or more if desired)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Peel potatoes and cut into small cubes. Throw the potatoes in a large pot filled with cold water. Cook for 25 minutes or until fork-tender. Drain the potatoes and put them back into the hot pot. Add cream cheese, butter, milk, and salt. Mash with a potato masher or use a hand mixer to whip the potatoes. Spoon mixture into a freezer-safe container and label.

Thanksgiving Day: Put potatoes in the fridge 1-2 days before to allow them to completely thaw. Spray slow cooker with cooking spray and put potatoes in the slow cooker. Brush the top of the potatoes with a tablespoon of butter and sprinkle with paprika. Cook on low for two to four hours.

If you would rather bake these, bake the potatoes at 350 degrees for thirty to forty minutes or until completely hot.

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I have roasted a lot of vegetables during my lifetime, but I can honestly say that I had never roasted green beans before. I saw a recipe for roasting green beans and knew I would have to try it. I decided to use what I had in my produce drawer and pantry to make this great little side dish that I know you will absolutely love.

The original recipe did call for fresh green beans, but I had a bag of the fancy frozen ones from Aldi in my freezer that I wanted to use. I added an extra ten-fifteen minutes cooking time for these and they were perfect for our taste. You can roast them longer, if you like, but this amount of time seemed to fit well for me.

While these can't be made ahead, necessarily, they are quick cooking and could be thrown in the oven while you are carving the turkey. Within just a short time, you have an elegant side dish that will be elegantly plated with your turkey and mashed potatoes this year.

Roasted Green Beans

2 pounds fresh green beans (or a bag of frozen fancy green beans)
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic (I use the bottled garlic to save a little time)
Salt & Pepper
Zest from one lemon (save the juice for later)

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Grab a jelly roll pan and dump green beans on the pan. Sprinkle seasonings, lemon zest, and garlic over the green beans. Drizzle the olive oil over the green beans and then toss with your hands until they are all coated with the seasonings and zest. Spread out in a single layer and slide your cookie sheet into the oven. Roast fresh green beans for 20-25 minutes and roast frozen green beans for an additional 10-15 minutes. When they are done, pull from the oven and put them on a serving platter. Squeeze the lemon juice over the top (from the lemon you zested) and serve.


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This spread is unbelievably addictive and so festive on your holiday table. Just try and eat one cracker and don't be surprised if you are scraping the bottom of the bowl by the end of the day. This was a hit with everyone in our family and a nice change from the traditional cheese ball.

Cranberry Spread


16 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup dried cranberries
1/4 c. orange juice

Do-Ahead: Mix all of the ingredients together and mold into a ball or leave loose as a spread. Wrap in plastic wrap, then wrap in foil, and store in a freezer bag. Make sure to label your bag so that you can find it again.

Thanksgiving Day: Let the spread thaw in the refrigerator 1-2 days before Thanksgiving. Place dip in a bowl (or on a platter if it has been molded into a ball) and serve with gingersnaps or crackers.

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This was my appetizer dish for a New Year's Eve bash that my husband & I attended. My husband absolutely hates spinach so I wasn't sure how well these would go over. If you can believe it, he really loved them so even if you aren't a spinach lover these are definitely worth a try. The chicken flavored stuffing throws you off from the spinach and because the spinach is fully cooked, the texture of these is so great.

I love any appetizer that you can pop into your mouth gracefully. The spinach between the teeth though...well, you may still have that problem. I am planning to make these often for future nights of board game fun because they are portable and come together in a flash. To save yourself from cooking on the day of an event, make these ahead and keep them in the freezer.

Spinach Balls

2- 10 oz packages frozen spinach
1 package chicken-flavored stuffing mix
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
6 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup butter, melted
Salt & pepper to taste

Do-Ahead: Cook spinach according to instructions, drain in a sieve, use back of a wooden spoon to press the spinach against the sieve to get as much moisture as possible out In a bowl combine the spinach, stuffing mix,cheese, eggs, butter, salt& pepper Mix thoroughly& roll into small balls 3/4 to 1" size. Place on a cookie sheet and freeze.

Thanksgiving Day: To serve place frozen balls on a cookie sheet and bake at 350F 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned If you are doing them fresh or thawed only bake for 7-10 minutes. Serve hot.

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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!

Because these are better the second day, this is just another example of something you can make in advance so you can kick your feet up while the turkey is cooking!


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.

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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.

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.

Throw the ingredients in the bread machine on Thanksgiving morning or take advantage of that delay timer on your bread machine to wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread. This recipe is a tried-and-true in our family!


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!

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No celebration would be complete in our house without a big bowl of holiday punch. This is a cost-effective and elegant way to keep everyone hydrated without breaking the bank! I can't imagine hosting any holiday celebration anymore without my holiday punch and I hope you can try this fantastic recipe in your house!

Amy's Holiday Punch

1 (2 liter) bottle cherry 7-Up soda
1 liter (half a bottle) raspberry flavored soda (I found this at Walmart)
1 (12 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate
1 (12 ounce) can frozen pink lemonade concentrate
1 (1 liter) can pineapple juice

Mix all the ingredients together for the punch. This will fill one large punch bowl or two smaller ones.

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Last year, I saved all of my yogurt, sour cream, and whipped topping containers for our Thanksgiving feast. I found a bunch of them in my fridge with a scoop of this and a dab of that in them.

These were run through the dishwasher and are now waiting for all of those Thanksgiving leftovers. I am sure our guests will want to take home some of the leftovers from our feast so I am making sure we are prepared this year. No one likes the burden of returning a dish so these will make the perfect containers to send home all of the goodies without the hassle. Best of all, we are putting these containers to good use rather than adding them to the recycle bin.

If you were feeling ambitious, you could cover them with scrapbook paper. I, however, feel hosting Thanksgiving dinner is ambitious enough and I hope our guests will appreciate the thoughtful gesture of having these containers to enjoy a little of the feasting in their own home.

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What is your favorite Thanksgiving recipe, tradition, or time-saving strategy in your family? I would love your ideas!

Labels: Holidays, Recipes

I love this beautiful leaf crown (@ elsie marley)

This crocheted acorn necklace is so gorgeous (@ A Foothill Home Companion)

This idea for using brooches and badges as gift toppers is so smart (@ Bugs and Fishes by Lupin)

These button wreaths are just darling & a great way to use up random buttons (@ Craftapalooza)

These easy lacy knitted hand warmers would look cute with my winter coat (@ dhbuscher)

This fall carnival birthday theme is so cute (@ A Purse Full of Cheerios)

These chocolate muffins would make a fun breakfast treat (@ Chocolate on My Cranium)

These autumn wreaths would be a fun craft to do with the kids (@ Sweet Life in the Valley)

I am loving this creative bench seat (@ ohdeedoh)

This cozy bed warmer would make a sweet holiday gift (@ Make it Do)

This pom pom wreath would look so cute on my door (@ Bluebird Vintage)

I want to try these Quiche Lorraine Scones (@ goodLife{eats})

This snickerdoodle pie looks like a yummy variation on the cookie (@ Baking Bites)

I want to also try these pumpkin cinnamon rolls (@ King Aurthur Flour)

I love these ideas for dressing up a gift jar (@ homemade by jill)

This rose petal tee is so beautiful (@ Etsy)

The kids would love making these meringue cookies (@ Wisdom of the Moon)

These faucet handles on the kitchen cabinets are so cute and retro (@ shelterrific)

This idea for getting kids clean at the dinner table is so smart (@ Parent Hacks)

I love these slow cooker revelations and plan to try these ideas (@ Blue Yonder)

I am loving this hack on how to steam milk when you don't have a milk steamer (@ The Kitchn)

Using a coffee filter to cut down on the oatmeal bath mess is genius (@ Parent Hacks)

This sour cream apple pie would be a yummy addition to our Thanksgiving feast (@ A Southern Fairytale)

These Starbucks-style Cranberry Bliss Bars look like a yummy fall treat (@ Serious Eats)

I love this cute little remote control organizer (@ Just Something I Made)

This fry sauce would be yummy on a burger and french fry kind of night (@ Real Mom Kitchen)

I want to make one of these beautiful book wreaths for my bedroom (@ Living with Lindsay)

I will have to try making this oven risotto (@ Lynn's Kitchen Adventures)

This shrimp fried rice would help relieve me of some of my take-out cravings (@ Annie's Eats)

I want to try this perfect Thanksgiving stuffing (@ Scribbit)

Labels: Favorites, Notebook

Today's fabulous guest post comes from Katie at goodLife {eats} who offered to share her thrifty cooking knowledge with my readers today! Thank you, Katie!

Like most families, our family has finally decided that the time has come for us to start cutting back. That mean fewer unnecessary purchases, buying more of just what we need and not everything we want. I was so inspired when I read about Amy's No Spend Challenge at MomAdvice.com. Something like that would take some serious working up to for me, but I think I'd like to take on the challenge at some point. Maybe for a week or two at a time before I work up to a full month.

For me, the hardest aspect of cutting back has been cutting back in the kitchen. Part of what I enjoy so much about cooking and eating is the process of making and trying a new recipe, a new ingredient, or a new flavor combination. Nobody wants to eat boring food, but trying new recipes costs money. It can mean buying new ingredients, not just using the inexpensive basics or what I have on hand. Once in a while I spend money on a new recipe and we decide it didn't turn out to be something we cared for.

I'm not telling myself that I'm not allowed to try new recipes or buy new ingredients. But cutting back on just one meal a week would be a step in the right direction and can save a few dollars. Cooking at home is also less expensive. We don't eat out a lot, but we eat out enough that we have decided that we are going to eat out less often to cut back. Just a few dollars saved from cutting back once a week and eating out less can really add up.

Once a week I have been trying to come up with a meal based on ingredients that I've already got on hand - that can mean leftover ingredients from other recipes I've made that week or simply items that I already have in my pantry and freezer. It also means learning even more about how to use spices and flavor accents to their highest potential. It means learning even more how to create interesting flavor combinations with what I've got. It means figuring out ways to adapt a recipe with the ingredients I have - figuring out acceptable substitutions instead of going to the grocery store to buy a missing ingredient.

What it doesn't mean is eating old standbys over and over. It doesn't mean eating boring food. It means being inventive - one night a week - with the ingredients I already have. Turning something basic into something more. And in the end, that is one of the things I love most about cooking. The being inventive and trying something new is what excites me. I've learned that the process doesn't always have to cost money. I can learn to be inventive in a frugal way. I've learned that cutting back can be a challenge creatively, and the creative challenge is what interests me.

This week asparagus was super on sale. I had a few leftover spears from a large bunch I'd purchased for another meal. I also had a couple of carrots leftover from the Chicken Pot Pie I made the previous weekend. Stir fry is a great way to stretch out smaller amounts of protein and vegetables. After I had the main ingredients picked out I started to think about what sort of flavor combination I wanted for the sauce - the thing that would tie it all together. This meal turned out really simple, fast, and yummy. This week I learned to appreciate that cutting back can still be fun.


Chicken and Asparagus Stir Fry in a Honey Ginger Sauce
a goodLife {eats} creation

* 1 large chicken breast
* 8-10 spears asparagus
* 5 green onions
* 4 carrots
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* 4 Tbs soy sauce
* 1/3 cooking sherry or chicken broth (or combination)
* 1/4 c honey
* 1 1/8 tsp dried ginger
* 1 Tbs cornstarch
* 1 Tbs sesame oil
* sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)
* 2 c uncooked jasmine rice

Prepare the rice according to package instructions. Combine the soy sauce through the sesame oil in a medium sized container, mixing well. If the chicken is bone in and/or skin on, separate the chicken from the bone and/or skin. Cut chicken into small pieces, slicing it thin and against the grain. Having the chicken slightly frozen helps with cutting thin pieces. Stir the chicken into the sauce, cover with a lid or plastic wrap, and refrigerate it while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Wash and peel the carrots. Slice diagonally into bite sized rounds, about a 1/4 inch thick, set aside. Snap the ends off the asparagus. Cut each piece into quarters. Steam the carrots and asparagus together for 4 minutes. Remove immediately and dunk into ice water to stop the cooking process.

Heat a stir fry pan or other skillet over medium-high heat with a small amount of oil. Saute the garlic for 1 minute; remove and set aside. Turn the heat up to high. Add the chicken and sauce, stirring constantly until the chicken is cooked through. Add the steamed vegetables and garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add the green onion and cook 1 minute more. Sprinkle with sesame seeds to garnish, if desired. Serve immediately.

How do you cut back in the kitchen?

Labels: Guest Posts

Thanks so much for swinging by for our Apron Full of Giveaways! Each week we share a link list of great contests to enter and share about our own latest giveaways. We are continuing our giveaway extravaganza with two great new giveaways that you do not want to miss!

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 great new giveaways to offer to you! We are giving away a set of Select Comfort True Silver sheets that are valued at almost $300! If you have problems staying warm, these sheets are just for you because they adjust to your body's temperature. I can't think of a toastier or more fun giveaway than this!

We also have a fantastic gift basket from Ford. This Ford Warrior gift basket is filled with some of the beautiful products that Ford offers to support the cause of breast cancer research and awareness. This gift basket would make a wonderful addition underneath your tree or split to give away as gifts to the special people in your life.

Don't forget that today is the last day to enter to win the Swinxs Game Console valued at $150. It is seriously one of the best gifts that you could give your children for the holidays and I don't want you to miss it!

The giveaway for a beautiful plush Madline talking doll from Toys 'R Us will also be ending this evening. What little girl would not want one of those for Christmas? Merci, Toys 'R Us! Hurry on over and get your entry in for this fantastic giveaway!

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 am trying to give as many precious homemade gifts that I can this year. Anything that I am unable to whip up myself, I plan to supplement with shopping on Etsy to fulfill my crafting skill downfalls.

First, I just want to say that I don't think you necessarily have to be crafty to offer up beautiful handmade gifts for your friends and family...you just need to be a little resourceful. Resourcefulness might be looking to craftier bloggers for inspiration, checking out magazines or books at the library, or just stealing awesome ideas off of a good friend.

I am going to showcase my homemade gifts over these next few weeks, in hopes to breathe some life into your gift-giving. My crafting skills are limited, but my resourcefulness...I would say that is one of my strongest attributes.

Today we are going to discuss making hot drink mixes for yourself and to share with your friends. This is one of my favorite gifts to give in jars or tins for the holidays. I love to tuck jars of these in with a few holiday treats for the gift-giving season. The best part is that making a drink mix only requires the necessary ingredients and a blender or food processor. It also requires zero crafty skills. Hurray!

Let's begin with my favorite cocoa recipe in the whole world. For this recipe, you only need a mixing bowl, a wooden spoon, and the necessary ingredients. If you don't want the cocoa powder to look coarse, pop it in your blender or food processor and blend until it is the powdered consistency of the store-bought packets. I usually skip this step though because, frankly, this lasts about half a second in our house and I am on to making the next batch. For gift-giving though, processing is a nice touch!

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Hot Cocoa Mix

4 cups nonfat dry milk powder
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup non-dairy coffee creamer
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 (4 ounce) package instant chocolate fudge pudding

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl. If a finer consistency is desired, you can pour the mix into a blender or food processor and run it through that. Store in an airtight container. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup (depending on your cocoa preference) of the mix to an 8 ounce mug of boiling water.

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The next drink mix has been made every year for the past five years in my house. It is my favorite drink in the colder weather and is always an impressive gift to give or to receive.

After you are done making your cocoa mix, use that same exact bowl to mix up the Vanilla Chai Tea. I have experimented with what needs a whirl in the food processor and what doesn't this year. I discovered that if you give just the tea and spices together a whirl, that you don't need to add the rest of the ingredients in the food processor. Since I have a small food processor, this cuts down on the time to make this and the clean-up after I dump it all over the countertops.


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Homemade Vanilla Chai Tea Mix

1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer
1 cup French vanilla powdered non-dairy creamer
2 ½ cups white sugar
1 ½ cups unsweetened instant tea
2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp allspice
¼ tsp white pepper

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until it is a fine powder (If you have a small food processor, you can combine just the instant tea and spices in the food processor & then combine everything together in a bowl). Add two-three tablespoons of mix to 8 ounces of hot water or milk.

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Packaging of your drink mixes can be done in jars tied with raffia or holiday ribbon or you can package them up in a green and lovely way... in those old Crystal Light containers. Use some holiday gift wrap to cover them and tie a gift tag with some raffia around the drink mix containers. These are ideal, particularly for teacher gifts, because I don't have to worry that my son will break the jar in route to school. Waterproof and airtight, it keeps the drink mix nice and safe. With a handmade or store-bought scarf, it makes a perfectly cozy gift to give.

Don't forget to make a batch of this for yourself. I shifted some items in our hutch and found the perfect corner to display our drink mixes. The marshmallows in our pumpkin jar add to my festive corner and make grabbing a hot drink for myself (or our guests) easy!

Do you have a favorite hot drink mix to share for the holidays? Feel free to share and leave your recipes in the comment thread!

Labels: Gifts, Holidays, Recipes

Happy Freebie Friday, everyone! A huge thank you to Freebies 4 Mom for supplying this comprehensive list of freebies for the week. Heather has a great list this week of tons of sweepstakes you can enter so be sure to check that out!

This week on MomAdvice, you can learn how to make a fast and easy spinach dip, check out some amazingly great reads for the month, enter to win a fantastic $150 game console for your family, put in an entry for a beautiful Madeline doll, and visit tons of other great contests this week.



Health & Beauty

Kirkland Diapers (Costco)
Garnier Eye Cream (Walmart)
Dove Hair Care
Clarins freebie (for all Facebook fans by Sunday)
aerie Fragrance (in-store every Thursday, sign-up for A-list)

Food

Kashi TLC Chewy Granola Bar
Dunkin Donuts coffee


NOVEMBER
7 - The Home Depot Kids Workshop make a Tile Trivet 9-12
7 - Lakeshore Learning Kid Crafts make a Veteran's Day Flag 11-3
8 - Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland begins (free 4x6 Santa photo)
10 - Whataburger Dress in Orange Night free Whataburger 5-8pm
11 - Applebee's Veterans and Active Duty eat free
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 these tips on how to keep your sippy cups clean (@ plumpudding)

My children would love these glittery water bottle crafts (@ bookhourcraftprojects)

My daughter would love this Tinkerbell themed birthday party (@ zakka life)

I want to try this recipe for an old-fashioned caramel cake (@ Scribbit)

I love making these yummy homemade egg noodles (@ giver's log)

I like these ideas for cooking in a mug (@ shelterrific)

I want to try this recipe for buttered rosemary rolls (@ The Pioneer Woman)

This Swiffer cover sewing pattern is genius (@ Berlin's Whimsy)

I will have to remember these witches brooms for next year (@ My Wooden Spoon)

This breakfast pizza would be a fun brunch treat (@ Lynn's Kitchen Adventures)

This t-shirt memory scarf would be great to make for a high school child (@ Craftzine)

I want to try this fluffy honey butter (Real Mom Kitchen)

I want to try this turkey burger with sage mayo (@ Food Blogga)

This cranberry applesauce looks delicious (@ Simply Recipes)

Labels: Favorites, Notebook

Labels: Wordless Wednesday

I can't say that my challenge to eat breakfast each morning has been going very good, but I have definitely made reading time a priority this month. I hope that you also are squeezing in some great time to read especially with the holiday festivities quickly approaching. Your me time is more important than ever!

At the beginning of each month, I will share with you some of the great reads that I have been working on. If you want to add me to your Goodreads friend list, you can find me listed under "momadvice."

My dear friend and fellow bookworm, Beth, also keeps a great book blog called, "Beth's Book-Nook Blog," where she shares some really fantastic reviews and ideas for great reading! Be sure to check her out!

This month I dove into these great reads that I would love to share with you!

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

This is the first novel I have read by Lisa See so I can't offer any comparison on this versus her other novels. What I can tell you is that this book takes you on a journey that is beautifully told of the time in China and in the US during the Japanese invasion of Shanghai.

Pearl & May are sisters who deal with many of the insecurities and rivalry that most sisters endure. Pearl is studious and responsible while May is beautiful and has the ability to get her way in any type of situation. Both girls are living a life of privilege and are unaware of the poor and less fortunate. The girls enjoy the good life and are able to afford their lifestyle thanks to modeling for advertisements that help afford them what their family needs.

This all takes a turn when they discover that their father is in deep debt. In order to pay off his debts, he arranges for a marriage and marries off the girls to a set of brothers residing in the United States. They are expected to make the journey to the US and fulfill their father's debts.

Getting to the United States proves to be more challenging than either sister bargained for as the invasion of Shanghai happens at the same time they are to be heading on the boat.

To say that this journey to the United States is epic, would be a small understatement. The girls endure incredible tragedy, untold brutality, and a journey that they never dreamed they would ever endure.

The story, above all else, is about sisters. Sisters that love each other in spite of it all...and sisters that would do anything for one another.

The ending could have been brought together better, but that was the only thing missing for me. I felt as though I had been on the journey with these sisters and the ending left me wondering if a sequel could follow.


Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

Anyone else a huge fan of The Time Traveler's Wife? This was one of my favorite books of all time. It was so good, in fact, that my husband found me sobbing in a corner with snot dripping down my face because I was so moved to tears. Perhaps that is why I really, really wanted to love this next book by this author.

This story is about two sets of twins- Elspeth & Edie and Edie's daughters Julie & Valentina. Elspeth passes away and bequeaths all of her estate and belongings to her nieces, Julie & Valentina. There is only one way to cash in on their inheritance though and it is to live in her old apartment for one year and their family is not allowed to enter.

The girls head to London to live in the flat and find that Elspeth is still residing there...in ghostly form. She is unable to pass into the next life and her soul is trapped in the house.

The girls get to know their neighbors like Robert, who is Elspeth's former lover, and Martin, a man left by his wife because of his debilitating OCD. The story follows them as the girls explore London and Elspeth's home.

Valentina begins to want to separate herself from her twin and become an individual while her sister craves the sameness that they have always had. In order to become independent, Valentina makes a decision that leads to consequences the reader will never expect.

While I enjoyed the book, it was nothing like what I had expected. I had a little difficulty following all of the different stories and characters that were woven into this story and I found the ending to have a great twist, but not one I could relate to or as believable as I would hope.

Regardless, it was a great read with a great deal of creativity and the history of London weaved in. This is definitely for someone looking for a dark read with a lot of great historical information about London.

Dismantled by Jennifer McMahon

I devoured this book in one day and could not put it down. I have never read this author before, but if this is any indication of her work, then I am completely hooked.

The book is about a group of four art students who form a group called the Compassionate Dismantlers. Their fearless leader, Suze, encourages them to commit petty crimes and vandalize with their motto being, "To understand the nature of a thing, it must be taken apart."

The book flash forwards to ten years later and Henry & Tess, two people that were in the group, are now married and have a child together. They have been living with a secret for ten years of a prank that has gone horribly wrong and both seem haunted by the crime. It is pulling them away from their marriage and neither can seem to get over what has happened.

Their daughter is anti-social and has created an imaginary friend who is helping her to bring her parents together. She finds an old journal and pictures and sends a postcard to all of the former members of her parent's group with their motto on it.

The postcard triggers a suicide and a chain of twists and turns that are as horrifying and thrilling as any good horror movie.

The book kept me up at night until the shocking conclusion that will lead you on a crazy roller coaster.

Just as a disclosure, this book had rough language in it!


The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I can't say enough about how much of a literary treasure this book is! It is rare that a book sticks with me and that I think about it long after I have put it down, but The Help is one of those books that does just that.

The book tells the story of the post-Civil Rights movement through the eyes of three different women. It is told through the eyes of Aibileen & Minny, two African American maids, and Skeeter, a young white woman.

Aibileen is a gentle soul that is intent on offering the best care that she can give to the white children that she cares for. She feels it is her duty to make them feel as special and loved because she knows many of the mothers do not give their children the love they need. Her tender spirit and soft motherly ways instantly makes you feel like she is an old friend.

Minny is a spunky character who has trouble acting as a maid because she doesn't really like to be bossed around. She has so much spunk and humor that you can't wait to see what kind of trouble she will get into and how endearing she truly is as you get acquainted with her own difficult home life.

Skeeter is a young woman who desperately wants to become a writer. She gets the idea to write an anonymous book with anonymous maids who could share their story and struggles as an African American woman acting as a maid and (often) being treated unfairly by their white bosses.

When these three characters come together it is pure magic!

After reading it, there were two things that I couldn't believe:

1) The author was a white woman. To document the African American struggles of the post- Civil Rights movement was so authentically documented and the voice so "true" that I found it surprising and a tribute to a skilled author to capture that voice. It never felt false and the prose was simply beautiful to read.

2) That this was Kathryn Stockett's first book. The skill of the writing in three different voices and the way she captured that era was something that you don't normally see out of a first time novelist.

What can I say about this book? It is one that made me laugh out loud, it made me cry tears for the struggles and unkindness that so many had to endure, and I became so attached to the characters that it will be hard to let them go. I wish that the story would go on and that a sequel could tell what happened to these three women as they began the new adventures that each of these women will go on.

If you read anything this year, let it be this book!

What was in your book basket this past month? Any book recommendations you would like to share?

Labels: Books, Entertainment, Things To Do

Thanks so much for swinging by for our Apron Full of Giveaways! Did you notice how brilliantly designed today's apron is? Why has no one thought to sew in a dishtowel so you can keep your apron looking pretty. Genius, I tell you! I love featuring smart Etsy sellers here!

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.

The giveaway extravaganza continues with a fantastic new Swinxs Game Console valued at $150. It is seriously one of the best gifts that you could give your children for the holidays and I don't want you to miss it!

We also are giving away a beautiful plush Madline talking doll from Toys 'R Us. What little girl would not want one of those for Christmas? Merci, Toys 'R Us! Hurry on over and get your entry in for this fantastic giveaway!

Today we have two amazing giveaways that are ending. 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 tonight!

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. This giveaway also ends at 8PM tonight. Entries are low on this one, upping your chances of winning. Score!

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 am an appetizer kind of girl. When we go out to eat, I would be satisfied with three or four different kinds of appetizers so I could dip and gorge myself to my heart's delight. My top favorites? Fried mushrooms, spinach dip, chips & salsa, cheesy dip with french fries, and mozzarella sticks.

This recipe combines two of my favorites into one combination- my salsa dip and my spinach dip. The cream cheese adds a creamy consistency to the dip and the cheese adds the cheesiness that I can't resist.

The recipe originally stated to just microwave it until it is hot, but I prefer my dip baked in the oven so I am including the directions for that too. I doubled this recipe for a party and doubled the cooking time (40-45 minutes) and it still was absolute perfection. I do love reheating it though for a great little afternoon snack in the microwave with a stack of tortilla chips.

Serve this with your favorite dipper. I love a sturdy bagel chip, tortilla chips, or even fresh cut veggies. Keep the dish light with fat-free cream cheese and low-fat cheeses and you still get the dipping extravaganza without the guilt!

Spunky Spinach Dip (courtesy of Gooseberry Patch Cookbook)

2 cups salsa (approximately one standard size jar)
2 cups Monterey Jack cheese
8 oz low-fat or fat-free cream cheese, softened and cubed
10 oz frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained)

Mix ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Stir well. Place in a microwave-safe bowl and heat until cooked through. If baking, cook at 350 for 20-25 minutes (double your cooking time for a double batch) in an oven-safe bowl (covered). Serve with your favorite dipper!

Labels: Recipes

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. I'm An Organizing Junkie
3. Craftzine- Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
4. Facebook
5. Swagbucks
6. Tip Nut
7. Craftzine- Pumpkin Cranberry Cornbread
8. Organizing Your Way
9. Wisebread
10. Deal Seeking Mom

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. Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
2. 30 Day Challenge: Reducing Clutter in Your Home
3. Fun & Frugal Adult Halloween Costume Idea
4. Pumpkin Cranberry Cornbread
5. Foolproof Bread Machine Recipe: Portuguese White Bread
6. Fluffy & Light Pumpkin Pancakes
7. Classic Slow Cooker Entertaining: Pot Roast Italiano
8. Deliciously Spiced Pumpkin Waffles
9. With Great Sadness
10. Protein Packed Strawberry & Banana Smoothies

Labels: Monthly Recaps