10 Tips to Save on Christmas Shopping!

I think that maybe all of us could use one of these tips this season...Our family already has a plan in motion that I think will benefit us greatly in our desire to "cut back" this year...we say it every year but this year it has to happen!!

I was proud to read through this list and find that I do a lot on the list already! You may too...but I think the whole list is good advice!

Happy Shopping

10 Tips to Save on Shopping this Christmas!

What "Soda" does to your body!

So I put this up on my blog today with great disappointment...see I LOVE Diet Pepsi...I have drank WAY too much of it over the years....When I entered my 30's I began to notice a lot of wacky health issues and when I would stop drinking Diet Pepsi...they would go away. So - last week I gave it up for good. Now I know that Diet is worse for you than regular soda so if I feel the need to indulge I may have a Coke every now and again but according to this article, both regular and diet are not great for you...it scared me straight...so I offer it to you. I know that it helped me to feel better - so maybe it could do the same for you.

I read a book recently that called pop "liquid satan" - thought that was a little harsh...but I see their point!

What soda does to your body! - Read the article here

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies - Oh My!

Yeah - I can't do it...I promise no more pumpkin...and then I see this. When the picture makes me want to eat the screen - I have to share it with you! I love pumpkin so much I may adopt it and make it part of my family :)

So here you go...do with it what you will- but I hope you enjoy...and let me know if you make it and you love it...I am going to do the "thanksgiving practice run" this week so I will let you know how it goes!

Hugs!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pie Recipe!

Last Pumpkin Recipe of the Season!

This is a keeper! It is best to dip with gingersnaps...so delish!

I promise - this is the last pumpkin recipe of the season - it has been fun!!

Ingredients:

8 oz. light or fat free cream cheese
2/3 cup light brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 15 oz. can pumpkin puree

Preparation:

In a food processor (or in a bowl by hand) pulse the cream cheese until smooth. Add next four ingredients (brown sugar, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon) to food processor and blend well. Empty cream cheese mixture into a bowl, add the pumpkin puree and mix well. Refrigerate until served.

Enjoy!

Cold and Flu Survival Guide!

As I type this...I am sniffing and coughing...my kids will be home from school tomorrow because they feel the same way - and we are generally just "icky". So I thought I would post a nice list of things you can do to fight the colds and flu this winter...A survival guide you might say.

I am sitting here with kleenex, a big glass of water and a fuzzy blanket that makes me feel somewhat better - I want you to be able to fight it so here you go - have a healthy week!

Cold and Flu Survival Guide - the 12 things you need!

Pumpkin/Cake Mix Delight!

I have had a TON of requests for this - so I wanted to put it into written form so you can try it before "pumpkin season" is thru! It may seem hard to believe that you can just take a cake mix and a can of pumpkin...mix and cook - but you can! I have pasted the recipe below...

Now - let me tell you that you can use a chocolate cake mix...I actually prefer that...and you do not have to add pumpkin pie spice - that is optional...sometimes I do...sometimes I don't.

I love this recipe - they are dense, but I think they are good! Enjoy!!

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• *optional - 1-2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 12 cup muffin pan or line with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, pumpkin puree, until smooth. Spoon equal amounts of batter into the prepared muffin cups.
3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out clean.

Pumpkin Roll Time!

This is what I have promised to bring to Thanksgiving this year...and what has been devoured every time I bring it to a function...the people love it! =)

I never tried to make a pumpkin roll before because I thought it would be difficult and I would somehow mess it up - but it actually turned out great.

Now - you will notice in the recipe that it talks about how to roll it out after it cooks...let me tell you what I do - you can follow the recipe or my way - either way - I think it will work.

When I take out the roll - I immediately take it out of the pan and put it on parchment paper that i dust heavily with powdered sugar. I roll it up immediately and leave it there for 20 minutes. Then I unroll, frost the inside, roll back up and put into the freezer for 45 minutes...I wrap it in an outer layer of foil before I put it in the freezer...and that's all folks! Again - you are welcome to try it any way you like - but don't be afraid!! =)

Pumpkin Roll Recipe - the best I have found (and I have tried a bunch!!)