Happy Christmas (or whatever you celebrate)

From my family to yours…Happy Holidays!

May you day be filled with peace, joy and love!

Minnesota/North Dakota mom blogger giving you the secrets to living a free life!

Blogging Holiday

Image via Wikipedia

Twas the week before Christmas and not a thing was stirring…

…especially on this blog!

Things have been a bit slower than normal these days but I’ve been as busy as you preparing for old Saint Nicholas’ arrival this Saturday. Gifts have been purchased but still they need to be wrapped. Goodies have been made…at least some of the tasty treats; I still have more to make.

A few more days and the kids will be out of school for winter break. Then all Christmas spirit will break loose!

I also have plans to switch over to Wordpress! Yes. I’m finally making the

Today Show Holiday Deals n Steals-Active 24 hrs.

These deals are only active for the next 24 hours so hurry before the vendors run out or the deal expires.

The Today Show has been running a Tuesday weekly segment of Jill’s Holiday Deals and Steals. The deals are only valid for 24 hours and many times don’t require a discount code.

This week they have some great stuff...$150 Daniela Swaebe Y necklace for $30, $214 worth of seafood for $50 plus the buyer gets an $20 e-card, an Aeropostle fur trimmed puffer coat for $25 and $300 Christine Price handbag for just under $60.

You just click on the product link embedded in the article below to get the access to the discount. Happy Holidays.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40647306/ns/today-holiday_guide/

Minnesota/North Dakota mom blogger giving you the secrets to living a free life!

3 Homemade Instant Hot Cocoa Mixes (Recipe)

Nothing warms my fingers, tummy and…well, the rest of me…quite like rich creamy hot cocoa during the cold Minnesota winters.

I’ve tried a lot of homemade hot cocoa recipes but nothing compares to this one. I found the base of the hot chocolate recipe at Mom Advice (scroll down near the bottom of the page for Amy’s recipe).

Exclusive December 13th Holiday Deals

This year many retailers will hold a special mid-December one day only online sale to help boost holiday sales.

The day to look for these deals is December 13th. There will be a ton of deals available only on this day. I’m told these deals will not work a day early or the following day so get this is the prime time to finish up some holiday gift shopping.

Remember these deals are only open on December 13th so get ‘em while they’re HOT!!!

Tips for PERFECT Cookies Everytime (Video)

Are you cookie challenged??? Do all your baked sweets end up a hot mess???

Kraft put together a video of some holiday cookie baking tips to get your baking back on track. I love giving the gift of baked goods for Christmas. These tips are just in time for the holidays so now your cookies will go from a hot mess to yummy deliciousness.

Preparing for Winter-My Checklist

The past few days Old Man Winter has blasted across the country. He's visiting places he's never seen before...or it's been a REALLY long time since he paid a visit. So many people have been caught completely off guard by this arctic blast. Relief for the majority of the country seems to be on the horizon, if you can hold out till Thursday.

Living in Northwestern Minnesota, we expect and prepare for the cold, dry, snowy, cut-you-to-the-bone windy wintery weatherman. Here is a sample checklist of things to remember for the winter weather:

Putting Together our Holiday Wish List

I’m late to the game but I’m just now putting together our family’s wish list. We’ve already gotten a few items but the tough part is narrowing down the list to the items I think the kids will actually play with. They “want” everything advertised on television but other than that, they don’t really talk about wanting any one particular item.

I knuckled down yesterday to start “THE list”. I searched Amazon, Wal-Mart and a few other websites adding interesting items to my Amazon wish list just to get an idea of the holiday possibilities.

5 Smart Snacking Tips

Image via Wikipedia

Snack your way to a thinner you on Thanksgiving day. I find it very hard to cook Thanksgiving dinner without “sampling” all of the goodies. The aroma and visual presentation is just too tempting to pass up.

The problem? Those bite-sized morsels add up FAST. Then I sit down to consume even more food during the actual “dinner” with the family. I even go back for seconds!

Current Holiday Deals

Image via WikipediaHoliday shopping is already in full swing at many stores. Seems the shopping season starts earlier and earlier EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. Soon it'll be Christmas year round.
Finding the best deals this time of year is a lot of work. IT'S EXHAUSTING! I've dedicated a special "Hot Holiday Deals" area on the right side bar to help you find the best shopping deals through the holiday season.

No Bake Pumkin Pie Video Recipe

Image via WikipediaThis week's focus will continue to focus on food to celebrate the family gatherings around the dinner table later this week. I hope to help you find great tasting recipes that are simple to prepare and (if possible) save you a few calories without sacrificing any flavor.

Today's recipe focuses on the timeless tradition of Pumpkin Pie. This is an easy no bake recipe from Kraft. Simply mix, layer and chill until you're ready to serve. What's simpler than a dessert like this???

Mashed Potato Layer Bake from Breakstone

The Meredith Corporation (parent company to local television stations, Better Homes & Gardens, Ladies Home Journal, etc) is sponsoring a Blogger Challenge Sweepstakes. Three foodie bloggers were tasked with creating a menu of their family’s favorite foods while incorporating Breakstone sour cream into each recipe. Amanda’s Cookin’, My Baking Addiction, and Iowa Girl Eats took the challenge and now it’s up to public vote to see who’s winning menu reign’s supreme.

Vote once a day for weekly prizes until December 20th.

Hot Buttered Rum Recipe

Need something to warm you up during a cold wintery day? How about a mug of hot buttered rum?

MMMMM.

This is NOT a figure friendly recipe but you can reduce the fat by using a fat free or lower fat ice cream like Edy’s Slow Churned ice cream. This ice cream is creamy like regular full fat ice cream but has fewer fat grams per serving. (Every little bit helps!)

Holiday Gift Guide Series–Camera Edition

Take better photos for less. If you have a camera on the fritz or not sure what to get the mysterious teenage who’s taken over your home, a shiny new camera might be the answer.

You could dump a small fortune into a camera and accessories thinking more money means better pictures. NOT TRUE!

13 Thanksgiving Freebies & Deals

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. Wouldn’t finding a free turkey be the BEST THANKSGIVING DEAL?

I haven’t found a deal for a free turkey…yet but to help you out on your Thanksgiving day festivities, I’ve collected 13 Thanksgiving freebies and deals from around the web!

You’ll be sure to let me know if there’s a free turkey with my name on it out there won’t you???

Honoring a Vet on Veteran’s Day

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Thank you to all the men and women who are serving and have served our country to secure our freedoms while ensuring our safety.

Not sure if I’ve ever mentioned it before but Trucker hubby is a former Navy man.

Veteran’s Day Freebies & Discounts

 

Image via Wikipedia

Veteran’s Day falls on November 11th every year and this year it’s a Thursday. A week from today to be exact. Every year businesses from restaurants to theme parks around the country honor our active and inactive military men and women by offering free items, discounts, or some other perk on (or around) Veteran’s Day.

Most establishments require proof of Veteran status before honoring Veteran’s Day offers. Typically proof of service includes the following: U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement, Veterans Organization Card, photograph in uniform or wearing uniform, DD214, Citation or Commendation. Be sure to click the bolded link to each offer for the specific details from each sponsor.

$50 Holiday Photo Card Giveaway

Halloween’s out of the way so now it’s time to start thinking about the holidays.

In particular, the traditional holiday greeting card. I know lots of people who put in lots of time and planning when it comes to Christmas cards but then again, I have a few friends who seem to throw together a great Christmas photo card on the fly!  I’m not one of those people.
When I put out a Christmas card, it’s usually something I agonize over. Should I pick a candid photo from earlier in the year? Should I choreograph a photo? What should we wear? How should we be posed? You get the idea.

How to Avoid Halloween Night Hazards

Image via Wikipedia

Halloween can be lots of fun for kids, little and big but it is also filled with unseen dangers. From exposure to predators to random accidents, Halloween night can be a hazardous night for both kids and adults.

masses of children roaming the streets + restrictive viewing through make up and masks + nighttime conditions = potentially dangerous and hazardous night.

To ensure your kids end up with a bag full of loot and nothing else, here are some safety reminders.

• Use reflective tape on dark colored costumes. Add it to the costume or the trick or treat bag if your kids don’t want to “mess up” their costume.

Chocolate Espresso Cupcakes with a Surprise!

Be sure to check out my post at Make It From Scratch to see how I made these yummy delightful Chocolate Espresso Cupcakes to celebrate hubby’s birthday!!! ;D

What’s your favorite birthday cake flavor combination???