Hump day look

Today is baking day for me here in the homestead. I wanted to post some great coupons for you to print before they reached their limits.

This coupon can be printed from Recyclebank and right now you can earn an easy 100 points but answering 10 quiz questions.. If you haven't checked it out I highly suggest you do.

The Glade coupon can be printed from their FB page.

All these coupons can score you some almost Free stuff at the Commi.

Paying it Forward during the Holidays

This year has brought many wonderful things and a few challenges but overall it has been AMAZING! A few years ago I was introduced by a stranger "pay it forward", she sent me a beautiful pirate themed blanket for free!! (here is her site: Spit On This)  Just for agreeing to have a caring and sharing heart to others, the only thing I needed to do was pay it forward to other people. So that year I sent out picture notepads, and calendars.

What was I going to do this year? Well December rolled around and I had done nothing to pay it forward this year. I also have 3 boys that I wanted to teach what the spirit of giving mean't (they are 3,5 and 6) in terms they'd understand. So what was a girl to do?

I contacted The Methodist Home for boys here in our town, St Marys Georgia and asked if they were in need or took donations for Christmas time. I explained that I wanted this also to be an experience that my boys could have. So I set myself on a mission to get as much things/toys that the boys home could use (they have boys from 11-18) and get it for FREE.

I went to our local Walgreens here and scored a great deal on these babies..... These are on sale this week for Buy 2 Get 1 Free.

 By using this coupon (12/2 SS) I got all 21 for FREE.

I then talked to the Store Manger Mr Dinkel and he was thrilled to help sponsor the boys home this Christmas. After a day of waiting for the proper paperwork to be faxed over to them, I went back and did a little shopping for the boys. I bought a few toys for the younger kids at the home and Mr. Dinkel donated stuff for the older boys. We have 6 Axe body sets, 3 sports balls, lego set,, skateboard toy, a remote control car and some stocking stuffers for the kids.

I was able to buy the toys and smores with the rewards points I stacked up along with their instore coupon they have right now.

 I also buy toys through out the year on major sales for near free prices so I went into my stockpile and got 2 of these Hess truck sets.

It has brought me great joy and even a tear or two to my eyes that Walgreens really does try to help the community. I am thankful for this experience and excited to see the smiles on some of these boys faces this Christmas.

All in all I spent only $17 for all this!




I encourage you all to Pay it Forward. It can be homemade, store bought or even sung but get out there and do it.

Baking a Pumpkin

 "Seems simple enough." I thought and you know what?! It is but I was intimidated for years by these cute little suckers. So how do I turn one of these into a pumpkin puree ready to bake with?

Cut your pumpkin in half.

scoop out all the guts (save your seeds to roast). I used a measuring spoon since it has a rougher edge.

look at all those pretty guts :) I've clearly been watching too much Dexter!

Add the pumpkin to a baking sheet fill with about 1/4 inch of water. Heat oven to 350 for 30-45 mins (for a 3-4 lb pumpkin).

Afterwards let it cool and scoop out all the flesh. Either use it right away of store in an airtight container for 2-3 days in refrigerator.


I ended up making some killer Pumpkin and toffee cookies for my husbands command. Lick my spoon has a great pumpkin toffee cookie, yum!

So get to cracking on those pumpkins, Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

Easter Cookies

I'm not normally an Easter kind of person, I could go on and on about my beliefs but I'll refrain. Although I don't normally celebrate this holiday I did however have an urge to make some Easter cookies and what better way to test my hand once again at Royal Icing.
Normally I have meals and desserts planned out, organized and written down in a calendar but there are times that my impulses get a hold of me and I make things that are not normally in my scheduled menu. Yes I'm that anal about things, I must stay organized otherwise my world feels out of control...more on that later. 

 
ROLL OUT COOKIE INGREDIENTS: 
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1 Cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 Cup granulated sugar
1 Egg
1 1/2 Teaspoon vanilla extract 
1/2 Teaspoon almond extract
2 3/4 Teaspoon baking powder
1 Teaspoon salt


Preheat oven 400F. Cream butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and extracts. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to butter mixture one cup at a time, mix well after each addition. Divide dough into 2 balls and on a floured surface roll out into a round about 12 inch circle that is 1/8 thick. dip cookie cutter into flour each use and place cookies on a ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 6-7 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned.