Poblano Grilled Cheese via Eating Well

Eating Well serves up another great recipe for all of you to try! We are always looking for new recipes that are easy and tasty. Eating Well's Hot Chile Grilled Cheese really fit the bill for us. While the poblanos did serve up some heat in this sandwich, I feel that the beans really helped to keep that heat from being overwhelming. (We do love spicy food in our house, but I know that some people aren't as keen on it!)

The peppers for the sandwich were easy to make--just pop them in the microwave and follow the directions. The recipe does call for a panini maker. Since we do not have a panini maker, I followed the stovetop directions and they worked like a charm! Also, I learned a new trick to play around with. For the cheese mixture, the recipe called for you to mix shredded cheese (Cheddar or Monterey Jack), cilantro, scallions, and yogurt. I really like how the mixture worked on the sandwich. I really see potential in adding yogurt to cheese to cut fat calories but keep flavor in other recipes. I will have to play with that.......

This is a great recipe worth trying out! We will definitely be making it again!

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Tiesta Tea Groupon Goods Deal Today! Ends 12/2/12!

Here is a look at Passion Berry Jolt.

For those of you who have been following us for awhile, you know how much we love Tiesta Tea! For our new followers, Tiesta is a unique company specializing in amazing tea blends. All of their blends are specially created to serve certain functions and are divided between immunity, energizer, slenderizer, eternity, and relaxer categories. Everything we have tasted from Tiesta, we have loved! (Check out our previous review to see!) Additionally, the company is local--originating in Champaign and now based in Chicago. We love supporting our local companies!

Now, to the news: Tiesta has a Groupon Goods deal today! You have two awesome options--either 5 tins or 5 tins with a brewmaster. The tins will include Blueberry Wild Child, Kiwi Cherry Bonanza, Berry Pear-adise, Lean Green Machine, and Passion Berry Jolt teas. The packages are being offered with a savings over 50%. This is a good way to be able to try a lot of Tiesta's teas. Additionally, their tins are awesome and really keep your tea fresh.


If you are interested in checking out this awesome deal, head over to Groupon Goods. The deal began today and will run through Sunday, December 2, 2012.

Here is a look at the package:

 

 **Disclosure: We have received product in order to make an accurate review. We have not been compensated for this post. All opinions are 100% our own.

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Christmas in the Valley in Schaumburg

This weekend is the annual Christmas in the Valley celebration at the Volkening Heritage Farm in Schaumburg. This has to be one of my favorite holiday events in the area! We went to the event a couple of years ago and had a blast even though it was a grey and snowy day. The whole farm was alive with old fashioned holiday fun!

Every building seemed to have something holiday-themed going on. My daughter was eager to decorate and eat a sugar cookie. The reindeer were certainly happy with the special reindeer food she concocted. She also helped make some traditional Springerle cookies. (We even left with the recipe--maybe I should whip it out?) We made a visit to the farmhouse to take in the smells of traditional German food and to sing carols. We watched a toy maker whittle some toys. Then, we took a haywagon shuttle to the Merkle cabin. The cabin greeted us with more holiday cheer. Mini-Mel made a pine cone ornament and met Father Christmas by the fire. Fun and holiday cheer all over!

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Website Wednesday: Snowman Construction Kit

There are so many fun little websites on the internet. I recently found one called the Snowman Construction Kit. On the site, kids can make their own the own snowmen. It is pretty cute. All you do is select the pieces of your snowman and drag and drop them where you want them in your scene. Here is my snowman:

What an easy and cute activity! I am sure that a bunch of kids will enjoy this over the next couple of months! Kids can do it over and over again and make a new snowman every time!

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Free Sbarro Slice! Deal Time!

Sometimes, we do like to share some deals on here. I just received one for a free Sbarro slice. You just need to sign up for their e-club. I know there are some Sbarro lovers out there! Just click on the image to sign up!

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Cheap Holiday Fun for Kids (Adding Affordable Sparkle!)

There are so many affordable ways to get your child into the holiday spirit. I love to load up on these ideas to have them ready to add a little more holiday magic for my daughter. With kids, it is the little things that often make the season that much more magical. Here are some of my ideas for this year:

• Watch holiday programming on the TV. To do this, you really want to plan now. Start by checking your stations' programming schedule.ABC Family has an excellent list of its holiday programming. By preparing, you can get your holiday fix in without missing some of your favorites!

• You don't need to see Santa at the mall. Santa makes many appearances at local festivals during the season. Many times these jolly functions are free or low cost and you can take your own pictures. (Let's face it, the cost of the pictures at the malls often can be outrageous. Also, the lines tend to be shorter.) 

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Fun for the Kids, a Breather for Mom at Nibbles' Play Cafe

This weekend, we visited Nibbles' Play Cafe in Wheeling. After a week off of school, my daughter really needed a change of scenery. After a week off of school, mom also needed some down time. So, we headed to Nibbles'!

Nibbles' Play Cafe is a place where mom, dad, and the kids all can have a nice time. The Cafe is designed for children 6 and younger. There are not many venues designed specifically for this age set, so this definitely sets Nibbles' Play Cafe apart!

The cafe has several differently-themed play areas. There is an awesome train table, an area to play with cars and little people, a play kitchen serving up delights, a puppet stage ready for a show, a soft playing area for the youngest visitors, an inspiring dress-up area, and a construction zone with a wall where you can set up ramps and tubes for a ball maze. Additionally, there was a cute Thanksgiving inspired craft for the kids with more crafts and games behind the counter available upon request. A ton of fun and play-based stimulation for the little ones!

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The Nutcracker Music Game Giveaway Winner!

Thank you to everyone that entered our recent giveaway for the Nutcracker Music Game for your PC. We appreciate all of the support and have a couple of good giveaways coming up! The winner of our giveaway is Debbie McConnell. Congratulations, Debbie! I have emailed her with the details of her prize.

We hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday!

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Date Night Perfection: Seasons 52

Last week, we were able to steal away for an evening. We opted to revisit one of our favorite restaurants, Seasons 52, for our night out. We love Seasons 52 because the menu is seasonally based, so it changes four times a year. This is exciting because you do not get tired of the options--there is always something new to try. Plus, they focus on the star foods of the season. This adds a little something special that separates Seasons 52 from other restaurants.

Being that we are in the midst of the holiday season and the gorging has begun, we were happy to know that our entrees at Seasons 52 would be lower than 475 calories. Add this to the freshness of each dish and it makes Seasons 52 the perfect choice for dinner out without adding to the heaviness of many things we may be eating in the weeks to come.

For dinner, I had the Caramelized Grilled Sea Scallops. The dish included asparagus and a sun-dried tomato-mushroom pearl pasta along with the scallops. I felt that the portions were perfect and I was actually surprised to find six scallops on my plate. The pasta was excellent--I could have eaten more (but shouldn't have!). The flavors were enhanced by a splash of lemon. The only real issue I had with the dish is that the asparagus was a little thick for my liking. Yes, we are asparagus snobs in my house and prefer the super-thin variety. However, the dish was excellent and I was glad that I ordered it!

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Tasting Trader Joe's Organic Stone Ground Mexican Dark Chocolate

Recently, my husband brought me home a little treat--a brightly wrapped package of Trader Joe's Organic Stone Ground 70% Cacao Mexican Extra Dark Chocolate. Trader Joe's is quite the purveyor of chocolate. They have many types to choose from so it is fun to grab something new and try it out. This particular chocolate was a little different than most chocolates than I have had before. However, the bright wrapping does command your attention and make you excited to try it!

The chocolate is stone ground as opposed to conched. The result is a chocolate that is a little grittier than I am used to. However, there is no loss when it comes to the aroma and flavor of the chocolate. When smelling the chocolate, there is an unmistakable deep, dark aroma. The flavor is rich with dark berry notes. However, I felt like I got a little too much sweetness from the cane sugar. One thing I loved is that the chocolate came in two disks that were easily broken apart.
This makes it so easy to just have a taste without going out of control.

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The Nutcracker Music Game Giveaway Ends Today!!! {11/23}

We were so lucky to have the opportunity to try The Nutcracker Music Game. The game really fits with the season yet is educational. A perfect combination!

The first time my daughter played the game, she loved it so much that she wanted to play it all in one sitting! The game really stretches children's listening abilities as different games involve identifying instruments by sounds using The Nutcracker.

We are giving away one of these great games for your PC. Please be sure to head over to our giveaway to enter. You better act fast--today is the last day to enter!

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Happy Trunk Kid's Activity Boxes Delivered to your Home! {and a Deal!}

As you know, we like to do a lot of crafts around here. I am always looking for new ideas for art and science projects for the little ones--whether it be for my daughter alone or when she has a playdate. I have recently been introduced to a new concept called The Happy Trunk. The Happy Trunk takes much of the guess work out of finding new projects for the kiddos. If you join their program, they will send you a themed craft box each month (for as long as you are subscribed). Each box is themed and contains 2-3 crafts along with a science project. They also send an open ended kit encouraging more creativity. The beautiful thing--everything you need is in the kit. (You do not know how many times I have been it middle of gluing things together only to realize I am missing something!) 

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Make a {Thanksgiving Placemat}--a Super-Easy Project

Last year, we happened to go to Lakeshore Learning before Thanksgiving for a crafting event. We made a super-easy craft that anyone can make--and I am sure that you all have the materials at home!

Lakeshore provided a range of products to make our placemat---paint pens, markers, feathers, leaves, stickers, paper designs, glue, glitter pens, and more. The children began the project by tracing their hands for the turkey. (Classic--yet easy!) Now, the feathers and leaves are cool, but, honestly, kids are happy to glue whatever to paper. So, if you don't have these materials at home, gather things that you do have. For example, you could use some corn kernels or couscous as grain for the turkey to eat or use a button as an eye or pipe cleaners for feet. If you don't have feathers, you can also cut out little feathers for your child to glue on to their placemat. When doing a craft like this with my daughter, I like to have the materials already set up at a little craft station. Having a little craft station already prepared always seems to open my daughter's eyes with excitement.

If you are scrambling for a last minute activity--this is a great one. If you don't use it for Thanksgiving, you can also use it for other holidays. I think that it would be particularly cute for a Valentine's Day party.

If you haven't made it over to Lakeshore Learning yet for a crafting event, definitely go! They have free crafts every Saturday from 11AM-3PM. Just a look ahead and they are crafting an I'm Sleeping Door Hanger (11/24), a Rain or Shine Mobile (12/1), and a Snowy Days Sled (12/8) in upcoming weeks.

**Disclosure: We did not receive any compensation for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

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Adorable Thanksgiving Craft: Turkey Napkin Holders {Gobble, Gobble}

Since we have mounds and mounds of scrap paper, I am always looking for ways to use it up. With it being turkey-time, I came up with an adorable turkey napkin holder craft that may be a good way to use up some of your scrap paper. Here is what I came up with:

 

To make my creations, I needed a toilet paper roll, different colors of construction paper (brown, yellow, orange, and red are needed but the rest are negotiable), googly eyes, glue, scissors, pencil, ruler, stapler, and a hot glue gun.

First, I assembled the fan of feathers. To do this, I measured out scraps of paper of different colors. For the best effect, they should be vibrant. For each color, I measured out a rectangle that was 2.5 in x 4.5 in.

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Stretch Listening Skills with The Nutcracker Music Game and a {Giveaway}

Just in time for the holiday season, we had the opportunity to try out The Nutcracker Music Game by Art and Music Games. I love to extend the holiday cheer to all areas of my daughter's life so that she can be swept up in the magical season. The Nutcracker Music Game was a great way for her to have a treat that wasn't only magical but educational as well. Being a budding pianist, my daughter is very involved in all things music. She especially loves to try out different instruments and learn about sound. This game was an immediate favorite for her.

Drawing from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, this cute computer game puts  kids' musical muscles to the test with 9 games. Many of the games revolve upon identifying the sounds of instruments. My daughter was immediately hooked from the first game where she had to listen to a piece of music and then identify the instruments playing in each piece. She rose to the challenge and had a great time trying to use her ears to solve each puzzle. Additionally, the graphics were adorable and brightly-colored--truly engaging for a child!

What I really loved about this computer game is that my daughter truly had to utilize her listening skills to figure out how different instruments work together to create a piece of music. Most of the other games she plays, whether they be educational or purely recreational, are more visually based. I love, love, love that this exercises another part of her brain.

Here is a video showing you the Orchestra Game. I love how the game highlights the instruments as they play certain sections so that kids can learn how to pick out their sounds!



After experiencing the game and seeing my daughter engaged in learning while playing The Nutcracker Music Game, it is easy to see why Art and Music Games has won the Parents' Choice Award. This game is a treat and adds something that other games do not. What a fun and engaging way to learn about music! (In fact, I found myself playing right along my daughter!)

Are you ready for a little holiday gift? Our readers can purchase a copy of this educational and entertaining computer game at 40% off by using this link. Right in time for the holidays! Want another treat? Art and Music Games has asked me to give away The Nutcracker Music Game for your PC to one lucky winner. Please follow the giveaway instructions below. The giveaway will end November 23, 2012. This giveaway is open to US residents ages 18-years-old and older. The winner must respond to our email within 48 hours or the prize will be forfeited.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are 100% my own.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Squeaky wheel that gets the grease

Sometimes things occur that just make you slap your head and wonder, "Seriously?!!"  Last night, such a thing transpired.  It was a good day - I had cleaned out the garage, picking up every last thing from the remnants of our garage sale, and - over many trips - had donated everything I could fit in the back of my car. I was feeling good.  Soon I'd be able to park my car in the garage again!

The one last thing: the baby crib.  It had stood there since September.  The pieces were too heavy for me to lift. Also, given that I'd been unsuccessful donating any sort of child booster seat (even ones that didn't go in a car - the ones that sat on a kitchen chair) - apparently, they are a child safety hazard and no one will assume liability for selling such items - I figured no charitable organization would accept a crib.

What to do, what to do?  CraigsList was a possibility, but I didn't want strangers coming to the house (and in the garage, which houses my husband's many expensive tools).  I was dumbfounded the crib did not sell originally at the garage sale.  It is a NICE crib - wood, expensive...the type of crib you'd want to register for. There was a nibble of interest, but the woman opted against the purchase.  And it was priced to SELL.  It would have been a huge find for anyone needing it.

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Python Printable Games Review--Website Fun!

I am always on the look out for adorable, printable games for my daughter to do. So, when the opportunity to review some festive Christmas printable games by Python Printable Games came up, I jumped at the chance.

I had the pleasure of trying out some of Python's Christmas games. I was amazed by how innovative some of the games were. There are trivia games, mad libs, scavenger hunts, crosswords, and more. I particularly like the Cleanup Scavenger Hunt for Christmas Eve. Hopefully, it will inspire my daughter to cleanup with special care. Maybe I could use one of those every night! There are games for every age and even some games targeted directly at office parties. (One of the office games that struck me was a cute one for handling the office gift exchange. Good idea!) All of the games come with answers, which makes for ease during answer time.

My daughter's eyes opened right up when I showed her some of the kids games--especially the trivia. She played the Truth-or-Turkey Game over the weekend with some friends and loved it. I can't wait to give her some more of the trivia games to do. It is great to have these on hand for spur of the moment fun.

Currently, Python Printable Games has an online printable package called the Printable Mega Pack which includes 60+ Christmas printables. You just download the printables and away you go. This package is currently selling for $19.95 and contains a lot of fun. You get to keep the games, so you can print them out whenever you need them. (Honestly, I think about printing out games at the last minute before a get together, so this may be handy.)

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Double Chocolate Avocado Drop Cookies--Delish!

For our avocado party, I was determined to find an intriguing avocado dessert concoction to serve. I stumbled on the Dark Chocolate Avocado Recipe at The Greatist and had to give it a whirl. I made a few changes and whipped up something that party guests really enjoyed. Everyone was surprised that the delicious result contained avocado--including my toughest judge, Mini-Mel.

Here is the recipe we have all been waiting for:

Delicious drop cookies made with avocado!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup mashed avocado
1/2 bag dark chocolate chips  (150 grams)
3/4 cup whole wheat flour (yes, guests, I snuck that in!)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup honey
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup water

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Gettysburg--in Honor of our Vets

I have been wanting to write about Gettysburg for awhile now and today seems very appropriate. To me, a trip to Gettysburg is moving and really brings home the sacrifices that our men and women in the service make.

We took my daughter on the driving tour of Gettysburg this summer. She was very engaged and asked a lot of questions about that battle that took place. I was very moved by how inquisitive she was. I was originally a little nervous to bring her because I was not sure how she would react to the subject matter at 7-years-old. But, I am glad that I did because she learned a lot about our nation and the many sacrifices that have been made.

Gettysburg is such a moving place that I think description is better served by pictures than anything that I could write. I am sharing a few that we took while we were there.

 

 

If you do go to Gettysburg, we found that the driving tour worked well. Since we could stop often, we were able to break up the tour and my daughter had plenty of time to move around. Also, since we were in our own car, we had all sorts of snacks, beverages, etc. The driving tour we took was free. We stopped in the Visitor's Center to pick up a map and then began our tour. There are also many other sites to see in and around Gettysburg, so you can make a great vacation out of it. The town itself is charming and is full of small businesses in historic buildings.

Thank you to all our Servicemen and women--all who are serving, who have served, and who will serve.

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Avocados From Mexico Football Party--Ole!

Through HouseParty.com we were selected to host an Avocados From Mexico Party. So, we decided to have some friends over and enjoy some avocado recipes during a football party. Here are some quick pics of the avocado creations from the party:

Fresh guac and pico de gallo from Mr. Mel. He is quite famous in our circles for crafting delicious guac and pico de gallo.

Here is the Avocado Gazpacho that we made. We found it to be quite refreshing and agreed that it would be great in the summer months. I am thinking it would work well at a baby or wedding shower as well--it kind of goes with finger sandwiches, etc. The women favored the gazpacho, the men did not. The recipe came from Avocados From Mexico.

 

  

Lastly, we made some Chocolate Avocado Cookies. We all agreed that you could not tell that there was avocado in these delectable treats. Plus, they did not have any butter nor any eggs. They were great treats that really showed us a new way to use avocados. I will be sharing this recipe later this week.

We all had a great time at the Avocados From Mexico Football Party. It was a great chance to get together, enjoy some new things, and just have fun on a Sunday afternoon.

**Disclosure: We did receive products from Avocados From Mexico in order to host our party and to try out new avocado recipes. All opinions are 100% our own.

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Family Dinner at BlackFinn American Grille

The revitalized Randhurst area of Mt. Prospect has welcomed BlackFinn American Grille to its growing selection of restaurants. The other night, we found ourselves a little too discombobulated to make dinner, so we opted to go out to eat. Always eager to try new places, we headed to BlackFinn American Grille.

We had a reservation since we were popping in on a Friday night. We were seated pretty close to our reservation time--which was great since this does not always happen!

The service was quick--always a plus when dining with a child. The restaurant seemed to be a good location for both adults on a night out and families. The menu was large and had something for everyone. Additionally, the meals ranged in price, so someone on a budget could most likely find something there.

We ordered our food---a pulled pork sandwich for the hubby, shrimp stir fry for me, and a cheese flatbread for the little one. Here is a look at our meals and what we thought:

Shrimp Stir Fry

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Shows That You and Your Child May Enjoy Together (Shock!)

I am sure that many of you have experienced the same thing. The family sits down to watch TV and instead of watching something that actually interests you, the kids pick something that is actually sucking out brain cells from your head. We all want to spend a little time relaxing with our kids and watching a little TV. However, it can quickly become a time that you dread when kids choose shows that lack much insight, are way too loud, and the characters do things that are way too ridiculous for us adults to find humor in.

With winter upon us, we all maybe spending a little more time in the comfort of our homes watching a little tele. Kat and I have been doing a little brainstorming and have come up with some shows that we can tolerate and even downright enjoy when watching them with the girls. We would also love for you to share any shows that you love to watch with the kids. You can comment below!

In need of shows for times like these.............

Here is what we came up with:

• Man vs Food and Man vs Food Nation
• How The States Go Their Shapes
• How Things Are Made shows on TLC
• American Pickers
• Phineas and Ferb
• Chopped 
• The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan
• The Voice
• Cupcake Wars
• Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel

Ok, so Phineas and Ferb is a bona fide kids' show. However, there is a lot of humor for adults in the show. In fact, the Lindana episode is a particular favorite. (The premise of this episode is that Phineas and Ferb's mother sang a one-hit wonder back in the day. How can we not think about one-hit wonders and not laugh a little?)

These are some shows that work for us and our little (ok, not so little anymore) ones. Do you have any that you love to watch with your kids? Please share in the comment section below!

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Norton's USA Makes it Easy to Buy American Products

A couple of weeks ago, I read about Norton's USA in a local paper. Norton's USA is an adorable General Store in Barrington, Illinois that is bursting with all sorts of American made products. In true General Store fashion, the store provides quite a range of products from old time candy to baking dishes to dog toys to games to apparel to beauty products to cards.

The store is very open, warm, and inviting. They have a children's area where the kids can actually test out some of the toys and draw on a chalkboard. My daughter was immediately in love with the store after discovering this play area. She even told me, "Mom, you can shop. I'll stay here and play!" There are samples of delicious treats as well as a barrel of free crackers. Of course, the barrel was another favorite of my daughter!

The staff is very friendly and always ready to help. The owner, Deborah, has to be one of the friendliest people that I have met. She personally makes all customers feel welcome and pleasantly converses with them. It truly gives the store the feel of a real, old school General Store.

Norton's USA also has an online shop. Those near and far can shop from the diverse and ever growing collection of American made products sold by Norton's USA. I love the concept of the store and it makes it easy to find American made products all in one place.

We found a few treasures at Norton's USA as well as a few temptations (those pumpkin pretzels are still calling my name). Norton's USA provides an easy way to support our country while finding all sorts of goodies for those we love!

The brick and mortar store is located at 400 Lageschulte St in Barrington. It is open 10AM-5PM Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 10AM-7PM on Thursday and 12PM-4PM on Sunday (closed on Monday). The online store is open 24-7.

The fun, approachable kid's area at Norton's!

**Disclosure: We did not receive any compensation for this post. All opinions are 100% our own.

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Website Wednesday: My Pet Savings

Ok, I have discussed this one before. However, it has been a looooooong time. Since the holidays are upon us, we are getting ready to donate to our local pet shelter. We try to give as many supplies as we can, so we try to stretch those dollars by using couponing. One of the sites that I have found useful for looking for pet related coupons and deals happens to be My Pet Savings. I especially love the way that My Pet Savings is set up. With the tabs, you can easily find coupons (and codes), giveaways, freebies, cool pet information, and more. You can search through the site really quickly and easily. With the days being so crazy, this makes life a bit easier!

I know that a number of you are probably planning on donating to animal shelters in the near future. Be sure to check for coupons to help stretch your dollars.

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Pine Cone Bird Feeders---Treat your Resident Birds!

With my daughter off of school numerous times over the next couple of months, I am totally whipping out all sorts of projects. Last night, we made cute little pine cone bird feeders. We have a number of birds stopping in our yard, so I am sure that they will enjoy a little snack!

To make our bird feeders, we needed:

•  pine cones
• bird seed
• peanut butter
•  ribbon or string
• scissors
• hot glue gun
• 2 bowls
• a plate
• spatula
• a plate, aluminum foil, or any place to set the feeders until you are ready to hang them

Assembly:

First, we glued our string to our pine cones. You can also tie string around the pine cones instead. I didn't do this because we were using smaller string remnants. (I save pieces of string from gifts, etc. for using again.) Then, we put a large scoop of seeds in a bowl. In another bowl, I put about a quarter cup of smooth peanut butter. I mixed a tiny bit of water with the peanut butter to make it easier to spread. I also set out some foil to lay our creations upon.

Our pine cone with string.

Next, my daughter spread the peanut butter on a pine cone using a spatula. We placed a healthy amount of seeds on a plate. Then, she rolled the pine in the seeds. She place the finished product onto the foil to await be hung in the morning. This was an easy project and I am sure we will be doing it again in the future!

Rolling our peanut buttered pine cones in seed.

Voila, some treats for our birdies!

Finished products.

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Fall Leaf Pencil Holder

A couple of weeks ago, we posted a list of places to find cool projects using your fall leaves. This year, I thought that I would do something a little different with our leaves. We already have quite a collection in our leaf book. It was time for a new project, so I opted to make a pencil holder using a glass
jar.

To make my creation, I followed the fall leaf candle jar project from Gingerbread Snowflakes. Our leaves had already been pressed and dried, so they were ready to go. I made my own Mod Podge using Elmer's glue. I basically mixed a bunch using a 1 part water to 3 parts glue ratio. Instead of putting all of my leaves on at once, I concentrated on one at a time because they were larger and tended to take a little coaxing to stay on.

To put on each leaf, I applied my mod podge to the section of the jar where I wanted the leaf. Then, I lightly coated the back of the leaf and pressed it on. Next, I covered the leaf with the mod podge. For the larger leaves, I had to apply more mod podge after they dried to keep all of the pieces on the jar. The smaller leaves worked much better. You do need to be patient with this process as it takes awhile to dry.

Once I had the leaves on the jar, I peeled off some of the excess glue on the glass around the leaves. Then, I dry brushed a little gold paint on to the leaves for a little shine. To do this, I dipped a paint brush into some gold paint. I then brushed a piece of paper with the paint brush until most of the paint was off. Then, I dusted gold paint onto the leaves. Lastly, you can spray your project with an acrylic spray to seal it.

While I had intended on making this project as a pencil jar for my desk, I decided to try it out as a candle holder as well. It does seem to get really hot with a candle in it, so I think you should use one of those flameless candles to avoid cracking your creation. You can also use the jar to hold all sorts of knickknacks. It really is a neat way to use those leaves and makes for a cool, budget-friendly craft!

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Coupon Shares: Get Ready for Thanksgiving!

There are a number of awesome coupons out there that will be useful for Thanksgiving shopping so I thought that I would share them. Some of these items may be on sale in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, so you may be able to get a great deal if you couple a coupon with a sale. I have been meaning to get a post together about couponing with a list of some sites we use, but I haven't managed to get around to it yet! My husband is an avid couponer. I take a more lax approach. I always tell people, if your going to buy a particular item, look for a coupon before going out. If you remember to do this, you will save money. To go to the coupons, all you need is click.

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