Valentine's Giveaway!

How would you like to be the winner of a Special Valentine's Gift Package that includes a:

$25 Gift Card to Victoria Secrets
$25 Gift Card to Yankee Candles
$25 Gift Certificate to Announce It! Chocolate Party Favors
Avon Clinical Eye Life with Eye Makeup Remover (value $30)

Together with Jamie's Tips and Freebies, Announce It! Chocolate Party Favors and Tabby's Pantry, we are doing a Special Valentine's Giveaway.

The giveaway starts at 7:00 am on January 28th, 2013 and ends on February 11th, 7:00 pm. The winner will be drawn randomly by Giveaway Tools. You can enter the giveaway below.

Please feel free to share the giveaway with your family and friends.

Good luck!

Katie

Entry-Form

What is a Cravebox?

I was recently asked what is a Cravebox? In regards to my facebook post about receiving my Zatarain's Big Game Cravebox.

 

 

Cravebox™ is the ultimate product discovery service. Cravebox™ delivers themed, curated boxes full of fun finds. Cool stuff that’s relevant to your interests, needs, activities and occasions. Packaged beautifully and delivered to your door.

How it works - Each Cravebox™ is a unique offering, with a set number of boxes. Members are notified when each new box is available, and have several days to enter a drawing for a slot.

If your entry is selected, you’ll be notified immediately, charged, and will receive your shipment in about two weeks. It’s hard to put a price on the fun of discovering new favorites. But it’s easy to afford. Each Cravebox™ costs just $10-$15 per box, including shipping!

For more information and to register with Cravebox click here.   Once you register, please put savingandsharingit in the referred by section of About Me in your Profile.

 

Check it out,

 

Katie

Soups On! Today's Special ~ Hot Dog Soup.

With the chilly days here in Upstate New York a nice hot soup really hits the spot.  One of my families favorites is Hot Dog Soup.  It is one of my favorites also because it is inexpensive, easy to make and everyone likes it.  Plus, I really enjoy making homemade soup.

Soup is also a comfort food.  It warms your body, heart and soul. 

Hot Dog Soup (Serves 8)

4 Medium Potatoes, cut in cubes
4 Medium Carrots, sliced
1 Medium Onion, chopped
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 package of hot dogs, sliced
1 can of Cream of Chicken soup
1 can of Evaporated Milk
1 cup of water
Salt and Pepper to taste

In a large sauce pan, melt butter and saute potatoes, carrots and onions for 5 minutes. 

 

Stir in flour and blend well. 

Add hot dogs, soup, milk, salt and pepper, bring to a boil. 

Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender.  Make sure to stir occasionally.

You can adjust the recipe to your family.  My family doesn't care for onions so I didn't use them.

The finished product is very tasty!

 

 

If your family likes hot dogs then I recommend that you make this for them to try. 

Enjoy,

Katie

Sharing the Sweets...The Baking Buddies!

 

The Baking Buddies

Christina, Michelle, Mandy and Katie

 

The weekends are family time for me and my friends.  All of our families like to have sweet treats to munch on over the weekend, but none of us have time to bake.  So I asked a few of my friends if they would like to become Baking Buddies and share sweet treats each week. They loved the idea and we are going to start this weekend.  This is how our Baking Buddies group works.  There are 4 of us, we decided that was a good number as there are usually 4 weeks to a month and it keeps the amount we have to bake at a manageable number.  We choose which weekend we would like to bake and share.  When it is our weekend we bake enough for our family and the other 3 families.  (Ex. If we make cookies, cupcakes or muffins, we make a minimum of a dozen for each family.  If it is Banana Bread or a cake, we make a one for each family).  We decide what we would like to bake.  Then whoever bakes has to deliver the items Saturday morning to the other 3 families.  We all live within a few miles of each other.  It's a win win for all our families.  We all love to bake and we will all receive a wonderful sweet treat for the weekend and only have to bake once in a 4 week time frame.

Each week I will highlight the Baking Buddy for that particular weekend and the sweet treat that they shared.  Sharing the Sweets, saves us time and money.  Many items what we need to bake is already in our pantry. If there is a particular spice one of us needs and doesn't have it in our pantry, we will share our spices as well.  Many times I have bought a spice (which aren't cheap) and used it once.  So why not share your spices.  Use a ziplock bag and measure out the amount needed and tag the bag with the name of the spice and how much you put in the bag. 

Let me know if you start your own Baking Buddy group.  I would love to hear about it.

Happy Baking,

The Baking Buddies

Mom on a Meal Mission Week #2

This weeks guest post from Christina our Mom on a Meal Mission looks yummy!

Mom...I'm hungry. Can we have tacos for dinner?  That is what I have heard every night this week. Unfortunately, it has been a busy and short money week for us so tacos were out. Tonight, however I have a couple of hours before work so I am going to full fill the week long request, but with a twist. I found a taco recipe on Pillsbury.com that I am going to attempt. It seems simple enough.

My grocery list:
Hamburg
Shredded cheese
Pillsbury Croissant Rolls
Taco Seasoning
Taco Sauce
Sour Cream
Lettuce

The meal approximately cost $3.75 per person.  I have a family of 4.

I tweak the recipe and directions a little to accommodate me in my kitchen.  I didn't have a pie pan so I used a small square pan.  I also used taco sauce instead of the salsa the recipe called for.   

My kids loved it!  My husband liked it also and he doesn't like tacos.  We will definitely make this again!!!  It was another quick, easy and affordable meal.  Mission Accomplished!

Click here for the recipe I used. 

Stay tuned for more easy and affordable meals.

Enjoy,

Christina ~ Mom on a Meal Mission

Great savings with Hasbro!

I got a great deal at Walmart with the Hasbro coupons today.  I bought the Hasbro Scrabble Slam Card Game.  The game was $5.40 and the coupon was for $4.00 so the game cost me $1.40.  You can print off 2 coupons.  I bought 2 of these games.  This card game is great for taking on vacation, putting in your children's Easter Basket, Birthday or stash away for Christmas.

Click here to get your coupon.

Happy Shopping,

Katie

Save a $1.00 with Freschetta

Freschetta is offering a $1.00 off coupon on their website.  Click here to get your coupon.

(Image credit Freschetta)

Happy Clipping,

Katie

Freebie Friday!

I love Friday for so many reasons.  Freebie Friday is one of them and I would love to share some Freebies that I have found with you.

Click on the name and it will take you to the Freebie page.

Factory Direct Crafts 

Fisher Nuts 

Freschetta  

Fat Brain Toys  

Rayovac   

Stride Rite  

Signature Levi Strauss 

Dearfoams 

Old Will Knott Scales 

 

Enjoy,

Katie