Pumpkin Muffins

These chocolate chip mufffins are a MUST MAKE. I am serious, like a must make right now. Break all my coupon rules, go to the store and get these 3 ingredients immediently:

1 box spice cake mix
1 can pumpkin puree
Chocolate chips




Yep. Thats all u need.

Preheat oven to 350 and mix the pumpkin and cake mix in a bowl.



It works best with this type of spoon



The batter will get thick so you need to use some serious muscle. I felt my "guns" starting to spaz so I asked my hubs for a little help with the mixing. He has nice "guns". :). He respectfully declined and retreated. He hates all things culinary.



Add the chocolate chips and taste. The taste is not necessary of course, but you wont regret it. So good.



The batter made 16 muffins for me.

Bake for about 15 mins.



The original blogger (mix match mama) suggested freezing for a quick breakfast or adding icing for cupcakes.

These are amazing. TO.DIE.FOR!!

Favorite Things Friday

Paul Michaels. One of THE best stores in the world. Well, according to my limited knowledge. It is so beautiful and so inspiring and a wonderful experience. It easily takes 30 minutes just to browse the store. I want almost everything I see.




























Scrumptious. I instantly insist on redecorating my entire house.

If I had to name the very top favorite things in my life....apple strudle circle e candle would most certainly make the list. Apple strudle is the.best.candle.ever.period. I love it so much, I can hardly stand it. The first burn of the fall season is amazing. Immediately I am in a great mood. Immediately.



2 parties tomorrow so resting up!!

Girl Time

I spent tonight celebrating a very special friend and her soon to be 2nd daughter Hallie.  I had every intention of taking artisic pictures of the food, decor, and the table full of interesting ladies most of whom I had never met.  However, I forgot.  I am so disappointed!!  I am positive the pictures would never look as good as they did in my head.

Can I tell you how MUCH I enjoyed time with ladies?!?!  I mean REALLY enjoyed the act of socialization.  We talked about kids,  the fact that there is no time to clean, we traded birth stories, complications, and made some past connections!  I'm not great at making friends, but I truly felt comfortable with my end of the table.  It was sooooo needed!

As my sister pointed out recently, God did not intend for us to do this alone.  However, sometimes we just don't have time to live life with anyone else other than our immediate circle of family.  Yes, it takes effort.  Yes, it is sometimes out of comfort zone.  And yes, it matters!!!!

Feeling renewed!!

Salsa Chicken

Last week I saw a blog about salsa chicken with pasta shells (mix match mama). This looked pretty good plus I had enough ingredients in my random kitchen to make it work.

Here is what I did:

Placed 3 frozen chicken in the crock pot (I did this Sunday morning before heading to church). Add about 3/4 cup water or stock. Cook on low for about 4 to 5 hrs.

Once the chicken is done, shred with 2 forks ( i also season with pepper)

Boil the pasta. I didn't have any shells, so I used penne.

In a large boil, I mixed:

Shredded chicken
1 pack of taco seasoning
3 tbs of cumin
1 can or steam bag of corn
1 can of black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 jar of salsa
1 small chopped onion
2 cups of shredded cheese

Basically, I just mixed a bunch of random ingredients together that followed the mexican theme.

Move the ingredients to a casserole dish and top with more cheese.  Cook on 350 for about 20 minutes.  Remove from oven add french fried onions on top, then cook for a about 5 more minutes.  Yes, you heard me right.....those crunchy things you put on green bean casseroles.  I thought it was strange too when I read the recipe, but it was a pretty neat twist!

That's it!! This lasted us for 3 days!  It could easily be doubled for a freezer meal!




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Deals this Week

I was not overwhelmed with anything this week, so this will be short!

I am on the roll with "rolling" my up rewards at Rite Aid!! I was glad to see a couple of great items that we use to keep me going.

Renu contact solution was on sale for 8.99 with $6 up rewards. I used $2 off from coupons.com to make it 99 cents!! This coupon is no longer available, but I have am extra one if you need it!!



I also picked up crest toothpaste for $3 with $3 up and used 50 cents off from coupons.com. Moneymaker!!



With my rewards I paid $5 out of pocket and received $9 back!! I've seen HUGE savings at Rite Aid this month. I have spent a little bit here and a little bit there (mostly tax) and gotten a ton of products!!



In the past, I could go weeks without going to Rite Aid...weeks. Well, the powers that be must have heard my battle cry because it is as if they have written every deal just for ME!! The cashiers typically arent super knowledgable about coupons, but its not complicated and every transaction usually works out.

Remember that the Ups rewards that you have on file will cover your subtotal before tax.  Ups rewards will print at the bottom of your ticket and is the only record of the rewards you have and when they expire.  Keep your ticket!!!  Also, remember that Up rewards can't be split.  For example, you have a $5 reward to use and you purchased a $3 product.  It will not be applied to the product because it does not equal $5.  Once you scan your wellness card, the rewards available will automatically apply to your total (I have amazed some cashiers at how far my total was reduced!).

Rewards expire after a week and a half.  So once you have received a reward you have committed to shopping again at Rite Aid within that time frame.  Otherwise, you are THROWING AWAY money.  Please don't do this people!!  If you have not had time to check out the deals that week, buy some birthday cards or off brand cold medicine.....something that you can use.

Also....if you have not signed up for emails at CVS.com...DO.IT.NOW.  Yesterday they emailed me ANOTHER $3 Extra Care Bucks.  This is free money with no purchase.  I have seriously received about $15 worth of these in my email.  It is insanity.  You could walk in to CVS and receive $3 worth of products for FREE!!!!

I love the easy weeks!  It keeps me motivated and reminds me that this is all worth it to save money!!!

Monday Meal Plan

What's on the menu this week?  I really have no idea, so lets think about it together.

The time I spend in the kitchen each day has continued to decrease as each week is somehow busier than the last..  Thank GOODNESS for freezer cooking.  My deep freeze has come through day after day in the last couple of weeks and I feel like a genius for stocking it well!!!

Monday:  Defrosted deer meat patties (yay deep freeze) and a loaf of bread (this use to scare me, but it is totally fine).  Add cheese for patty melts

Tuesday:  Tilapia with steamed Broccolli

Wednesday:  I have a meeting, so D is on his own

Thursday:  Basil Pork Chops over Cous Cous

Friday:  Quick PB and J before Sterlington Panther game day!

Have a good Monday!!!

Favorite Things Friday

Here are a few of my favorite this week.



Rain! Rain! Rain! It is one of my favorites!!!!! Rain that brings a "cool" front is even better.

The fact that at this time in her life, my daughter loves to clean.










Watching pageants and now I have someone to watch them with!!



This smile



A father and son



Have a good weekend!!!!

Turkey Taco Bowl

Tacos are a staple in most family homes. I never get tired of them as long as they are topped with a hill of cheese. I love a good pile up of multiple toppings, but as long as I have cheese I am happy.

This week's cooking has been on the back burner. My salsa casserole lasted through Wednesday lunch, so that was a tremendous blessing. Without my meal plan, I was a little lost on dinner ideas. I dug through my freezer wednesday morning and found cooked turkey meat labeled "use for tacos". Thank you freezer cooking sunday!!! And thank you self for providing such a detailed label knowing that if I was digging through the freezer, I most likely had no I idea what I was digging for.

Here is what I did with the meat:

Add cooked turkey meat to a skillet and add a package of taco seasoning and 3/4 cup water.

Add 2 tbsp cumin, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp cilantro, 1/2 cup finely chopped carrots, 1/2 cup chopped onions

Cook until warmed and blended together.

I have been wanting to try out the soft taco bowls because they just look so fun!! There was a 75 cent off coupon in the paper last week, so that was my final push.

These cuties only need to be heated in the microwave and they are ready to go.  Just pile up your toppings!!






Lettuce - BOGO from Brookshires. 
Cheese - Kraft block using $1 off 2 from coupons.com

Daniel gave this a TEN.  He typically keeps the "tens" in his back pocket and uses with extreme caution.  I was shocked to receive such a high rating on this simple dish.  He said the turkey meat was awesome and I have to agree.  RL ate every single bite as well!!

This would be so easy and fun for a game day with guest.!!

Deals this Week

This week has been super crazy for me.  I am behind in EVERYTHING  in life so checking out weekly deals got pushed back several days.  Honestly, my Sunday paper is still in the back seat of my car!!

As we are heading into the end of the week, I wanted to point out a few things that I think are worth your time.  I knew that I had up rewards at Rite Aid that expired today, so I took a quick look at Krazy Coupon Lady to find a few easy deals for products I use.

Noxema Shaving Cream is still on sale for $1.99 with $2 Up rewards.  The limit is 4 and I picked up a couple last week and I grabbed a couple more today.



I was SO EXCITED to see that Special K cereal was on sale for 2 for $4 (compared to $3 a box at Wal-Mart).  You will use an in-ad Rite Aid coupon to get this price and stack with $1 off coupon from coupons.com.  Totaling $1 a box!!! Cereal prices have been AMAZING lately!!



Finally, bags of fun size snickers were on sale for 2 for $5 with a $1 up reward with the purchase of 2.  I bought 6 bags and used 2 $1.50 off 3 coupons from coupons.com.  With coupons and ups rewards it equals $1.50 per bag!!



Compared to this Wal-Mart price!!



Halloween candy.  Check!  Ready for the trick or treaters!!

My out of pocket expense for all of these items including tax was $2.50!!! I then received $7 ups rewards back!! You absolutely cannot beat this system.  It is so much fun and such a high to know that you are really stocking up with rock bottom prices for your family.

I am keeping a tally of all of my grocery expenses over the month of September to share with you at the end of the month.  I have been able to significantly reduce my monthly grocery bill and I hope to encourage others to do the same!!!

It's Time for Fall

It's time for Fall!!!!

Well, its time for fall decorating at least. We still have a couple more months until we get fall weather.

That amazing wonderous fall weather we get for about a 2 week time frame. I love those 2 weeks.

If we waited until fall weather made its entrance to decorate, we would totally miss the season. So the pumpkins went up in my house!!







After looking at this pic, my arrangement needs some work.


Here is my favorite part, my table.












Now I knew this table would last for only a few hours (this is where we eat), but those few hours meant alot to me. Both the kids were up at different points of the night. Everytime I walked by my table in the wee hours of the morning, I smiled. I took one more admiring look before I cleared it for breakfast (right after rl threw a fit because she wanted to drink from the wine glass).

I will probably reset this table every time RL is out of the house. This is truly the only reason I have ever wanted a formal dining room. Tablescapes all year round!! Oh my!

I'm looking for new ideas for my front porch this year. Will post when I get it up!! Going to pinterest search now.....

Munchkin Market Mania

I am skipping over meal planning monday this week with plans to wing it!! I made a salsa chicken casserole (recipe soon) on Sunday that will last me until Wednesday, so thats almost 1/2 the week.

Today lets talk about kids clothes and consigment.

I looooooove a good consignment sale. Kids clothes and toys are so expensive that it could really damange some bank accounts. Especially mine!!

Several years ago, 2 girls had the genious idea to have a twice a year consignment sale for name brand items. The more shifts you volunteer to work the earlier you shop. I can NOT stand to miss a deal so I absolutely volunteer for the max amount of hours.

So today I spent 6 hrs of my day reaping the benefits of those volunteer hours. Shop! Shop! Shop! I shopped long and hard.

Some of the things I racked up include a double stroller, melissa and doug toys, leap frogs, and v techs!!

Learning puzzles



Boots!



Holiday wear






And of course staple pieces






I get so sad when its over. :(

Bring on fall!!!! My kid's closets are ready!!!

Baked Apples.

I had two bags of apples purchased at the bogo sale at brookshires. I like apples, but usually dont like the extra time it takes to cut it up when I want a quick snack. Rl doesnt like them at all, but i've been wanting to try them softened with Ruddick.

So this is what I did:

Sliced 5 small apples and lined them out on baking sheet.

Sprikled a tiny bit of sugar and then covered with cinnimon.



Baked on 350 for about 20 minutes. I watched for the peels to start to brown and curl.




They turned out great!!! I couldnt stop eating them! Absolutely a make again easy snack.

This also makes the house smell awesome and fallish. Perhaps throw some in the oven before company arrives and you have a air freshner and appetizer all in one!!

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Favorite Things Friday

Quick post about one of my favorite things. Small town highschool football!!




I grew up in a small town with a big football tradition. I remember being able to go out in the backyard and see the stadium lights and hear the announcers cheer on the golden tornados!!!

Then I moved right in to the beginning of a power house football world. The West Monroe Rebels.

Now living in Sterlington I want to support the local team. The atmosphere is PERFECT! The team can compete, there is just enough people in the stands, and my favorite brand of tees carry the team shirt!






This was a close game, but the panthers showed up and played hard for the win.



Rl looooooves the games.



And the after dinner treats that my awesome nieghbor brought over



R typically sleeps for the first hr and then smiles and coos for the remainder of the game.

Fun times with the fam and highschool football tonight.

Tomorrow.... Pageant day. Remember no judging. Oh, and I ran into a friend of mine from college at the game. It just so happens that she is a JUDGE in the pageant tomorrow. Whoops. Conflict of interest?