Archive for » September, 2008 «

30
Sep 2008

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

 

Have I mentioned my addiction to anything pumpkin?   That includes the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks – unfortunately the nearest Starbucks is about 60 miles away!  I came up with my own Pumpkin Spice Latte Starbucks Copycat recipe to help with my craving and save me some cash.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons canned pumpkin
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla syrup or creamer
  • 3 ounces espresso or a half cup of strong coffee (I made coffee by using 2 tablespoons of grounds per 1 cup of coffee)
  • 2 teaspoons sugar but this depends on preference
  • pumpkin pie spice
  • whipped cream

Directions

  • Heat milk and pumpkin puree in a small saucepan on the stove.  Put on medium heat.
  • Add vanilla and a dash of pumpkin pie spice.
  • Once steaming and a little frothy, pour into a mug and add espresso or strong coffee.
  • Add sugar to taste.
  • Top with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice.

For more Talk about Tuesday, visit Lazy Organizer.

Category: Frugal, Recipes, Talk About Tuesday  7 Comments
29
Sep 2008

Menu Plan Monday

 

Some of the things on our menu last week we didn’t get to because I forgot that we had planned on eating out on Saturday (before seeing Hanson in concert) and Sunday we went to DH’s parent’s house for a late birthday dinner for him.  His mom sent us home with leftover lasagna and cake so we’ll be eating that for lunches until it’s gone. :)

 

Monday – Baked fish, rice stirfry on the side

Tuesday – Burritos with rice, black and pinto beans, grilled veggies, and toppings

Wednesday – Mini meatloafs, mashed potatoes, corn

Thursday – Meatloaf subs

Friday – Baked potato bar

DH will be out of town this weekend, so I’ll be eating up leftovers or meals that are easy to make.

 

For more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie!

Category: Meal Planning  2 Comments
26
Sep 2008

Making money online

 

There are a few things that I have learned to do online that actually *make* money.  A penny saved is a penny earned, right? :)

 The first is CKY Books.  They actually buy books from you, you send them to them for free, and they paypal you for them.  I sent in 2 books last week, and I made $4.84.  I left it in my paypal account and I actually just bought a used cloth Motherease diaper with it.

The second thing I use is MyPoints.  They send me advertising emails, and if I click on them and view them I earn 5 points.  Sometimes I take surveys and make up to 50 points, and if I buy anything online I can buy through the MyPoints page and earn points per dollar.  I usually buy from Lakeside for Christmas and I get 500 points for spending $25.  Once you earn enough points, you can order a gift certificate.  I have gotten 2 certificates for $25 so far since I have been doing this – one for Steve & Barry’s and Motherhood Maternity.  If you want to sign up, leave me your email and we can both get 250 points!  That’s a good amount to start with and get you well on your way to a reward.

For more frugal ideas, visit Biblical Womanhood.

 

Category: Frugal  3 Comments
25
Sep 2008

Thursday 13 – Good Recipe Links

 

List of 13 Good Recipes I Have Found Online:

1.  Cinnamon rolls

2.  Veggie Pot Pie

3.  Spinach Pasta

4.  Baked Oatmeal

5.  Red Lobster Cheesey Garlic Biscuits

6.  Baked Acorn Squash

7.  Crockpot Short Ribs

8.  Vietnam Fried Rice

9.  Beef Stew

10.  Chili Mac

11.  Easy Lasagna

12.  Sweet Tea

13.  McDonalds Vanilla Iced Coffee

 

Picture courtesy of: http://www.homebiznotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/thursday_thirteen_torn_letters.gif

Category: Recipes, Thursday Thirteen  3 Comments
24
Sep 2008

Announcing…

 

According to the ultrasound (& mommy’s intuition), Sprout is a GIRL! 

 

Picture courtesy of:  http://ftdfloristsonline.com/kernel/imageload/?table=fol3_catalog_images&key1=EO-6100_feature&key2=404_feature

Category: Pregnancy  2 Comments
23
Sep 2008

Talking about pregnancy – 1st 20 weeks!

I am 20 weeks pregnant today, and I can’t believe that I am half way there.  I know I have many days ahead of me until I meet my precious little baby Sprout, but I have to admit how blessed I have been so far.  So I was tired my first three months – tired like I’ve never felt before and sure I felt a little queasy (and even got sick once but only once it quite amazing) but still!  I have gained only about 6 pounds and when I wear a regular t-shirt, most people can’t even tell I’m expecting yet.  I am active once again walking, doing yoga, biking, and feeling like myself.

20 weeks pregnant means that my uterus is about even with my belly button and baby baby is about 6 1/2 inches long and weighs about 9 ounces.  He/she has all of it’s parts and is learning to grasp and suck its fingers and move around a lot, which I feel more and more often as each day passes.  Sprout’s body is also covered in vernix and will continue to grow longer, fatten up, and have fully developed lungs before birth.

Tomorrow is my ultrasound, and I am both excited and nervous.  Is everything okay?  Is Sprout a boy/girl – I have an intuition but what if I’m wrong?  What if I don’t find out tomorrow?  Am I really ready for all of this?

What an amazing process this all has been.  I hope the next 20 weeks will be just as amazing as the first 20 were.  I can’t wait to meet my little babe. :)

For other Talk about Tuesdays, visit The Lazy Organizer.

Category: Pregnancy, Talk About Tuesday  4 Comments
22
Sep 2008

Meal Plan Monday

 My pantry and fridge are finally fully stocked from our monthly grocery shopping trip, so “real” recipes will be on my lists for the weeks ahead. :)

Monday ~ Sloppy joes, mashed potatoes, and corn on the cob

Tuesday ~ Lasagna with homemade cheesey garlic toast

Wednesday ~ Vietnam fried rice and pumpkin pie for dessert

Thursday ~ Leftovers

Friday ~ Pizza biscuits

Saturday ~ Fish, rice/potato, and green beans

Sunday ~ Fryer chicken, stuffing, and fruit salad

 For more meal plan ideas, visit The Organizing Junkie!

Category: Meal Planning  2 Comments
21
Sep 2008

Prepare your home for Fall

One of my biggest pet peeves about Christmas (which I LOVE don’t get me wrong), is that most people rush through celebrating Fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving because they want Christmas to be here NOW.  I have always waited until one holiday has passed before celebrating another – I guess that’s the equality in me coming out. :)

At 100 Days to Christmas, they are talking about decorating for Fall.  Just this past week, I dug out my Fall decorations and this is what I have done so far~

  1. Put two bright mums out on my porch.  They are red and yellow and such a beautiful indication of Fall.
  2. I received a pumpkin from my CSA that has been in my kitchen as a decoration for awhile – soon it will turn into a pumpkin pie or pumpkin bars.
  3. I put out my Fall/Halloween decorations – stuffed pumpkins, wooden pumpkins, wreaths, scarecrows, Autumn placemats….
  4. I have stocked up my kitchen with fall goodies – pumpkin spice tea, pumpkin spice latte mix, apple cider and cocoa mix, fixins for pie, and ingredients to make soups and chili.
  5. I bought Fall candles at Walmart.  They were small jar candles for $1, so I got pumpkin spice of course and mulled cider.  Are you seeing a pumpkin obsession yet?
  6. I also put my Bath and Body Works cinnamon pumpkin spice body gel in the shower. :)
  7. The last thing I have to complete is make the change in the closets and bring up our winter clothes from the basement.  That’s a day project that will have to wait until I get some free time, but I better not wait too long.  The chill is settling!

HAPPY FALL!

 

Category: Day to day, Holidays  2 Comments
18
Sep 2008

Tidbits

  • I am in my 19th week of pregnancy already!  Next week is my ultrasound, and hopefully Sprout will share his/her gender with us because we really want to know. :)   I’ll be sure to pass along the news to you as soon as I can.
  • I had enrolled in a class at the community college as an auditing student, but come to find out they changed the fees and instead of paying for 20% of tuition I would’ve been paying 120%.  Needless to say I dropped, but I am going in today to see if he’ll let me sit in anyway.
  • I have completed another month’s worth of groceries around here.  I don’t know what it is, but planning my menus, making a huge list, spending time reading labels, and organizing it all when I get home sure makes me feel good.  I know – there is something strange about that. :D
  • I have started sewing my cloth napkins, but James and I are sharing the sewing machine because he is making a backpack.  At least it’s started though and we have a few to wipe our faces on. :)
  • I really love Fall!  Why do I always forget?  But when I open up my Fall decorations and I can smell anything related to pumpkin spice, I am in heaven.  I’m enjoying it even more now that I found decaf pumpkin spice tea (add a teaspoon of milk and sugar and it’s divine!!)
  • Happy Thursday!
Category: Day to day  3 Comments
17
Sep 2008

WFMW – Planning for Christmas

Did you know there are only 99 days left until Christmas?  Can you even believe it?  I have been very convicted this Christmas season to be wise about how we spend our Christmas budget.  Every month, we put a certain amount into our “vacation” fund which covers birthdays, trips, and Christmas and I’d really like this Christmas to be a good one.  A good one as in I find presents people like and want that are wise choices.  They may be homemade totes for my cousins with lipglosses and decorated notepads or onesies for the my new niece that have stamped, embroidered, or iron on letters on them made by me, or even using my discount through Mary Kay to get very nice and quality gift sets for the adults in my family.

 So with all this thinking and planning, I have decided to take part in the 100 Days Until Christmas.

I will be using their calendars, creating my own lists, and putting together a binder of decorating and baking ideas just for Christmas – since I love it oh so much!! :D   Planning for Christmas works for me!

 

For other WFMW posts, visit Rocks in my Dryer.

Category: Frugal, Goals, Holidays, Works for me Wednesday  5 Comments
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