Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Happy New Year!!


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New Year's Resolutions for Living Frugally #sponsored

shopping bags rainbow


With the holidays over and a new year on the horizon, it's time to make a fresh start and think about getting back on track with spending. Making New Year's resolutions and keeping them doesn't have to be stressful. It can be fun, especially when you include the kids. It's a good time to reinforce your resolve to be a frugal family. Here are five New Year's resolutions for living frugally that you can make together as a family.
5 New Year's Resolutions for Living Frugally:

1. Spend Less-
Shop smart so you can spend less. Pay attention to what you're buying and where you're buying it. Routine trips to the discount store can help you spend less on everyday staples, school supplies, party supplies and craft projects. Resist the urge to buy what you need on a whim, especially when you're at stores where things are priced a little higher in exchange for their convenience.

2. Plan Ahead-
There are fun family activities you'll want to do with your children in the upcoming months, from birthday parties and indoor crafts to outdoor projects and family trips. Plan ahead for them. Mark them on a calendar. Work them into your monthly budget, and don't forget to budget in some fun. Pick up craft supplies and inexpensive party decorations when your budget allows, and make a conscious decision to buy them for less.

3. Get Organized-
Take an inventory of what you have at home, and organize your stash. Maybe it's time to buy a storage cabinet or put up some shelves in your laundry room. Whether it's cartons of cleaning supplies, a pile of notebooks for school or the extra paper products you bought last summer, put them in a distinct place and take stock of what you have. Use them up before you buy more.
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Sunday, December 29, 2013

A Winter Dinner, Pumpkin Chicken Chili



I know that pumpkin may sound like an odd ingredient to put into a chili recipe. But this chili is perfect for a cold winter's night dinner, and certainly makes use of the stray can of pumpkin left over in the pantry.

No worries of your chili tasting like pumpkin pie, it won't, it will be unusual though, and I mean that in the best way.

This is the first time I have made Pumpkin Chicken Chili, but it certainly won't be the last. My family loved it, and the next time I make it, I'll make a double batch, and freeze half for another dinner.

I used chicken thigh meat instead of chicken breasts because I like the more flavorful dark meat. And it's less expensive, too.
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Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Merry Christmas!!


Merry Christmas!
We are already for Christmas, and the kids are waiting for Santa to arrive tonight.

We would like to wish all of our readers and friends a very Merry Christmas. Thank you all for coming here to Frugal Family Tree.


                                                       Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday,

                                                          Laura, Samantha, and Patricia





*Image via Pinterest
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Monday, December 23, 2013

Eggnog Fudge



We are still busy whipping things up in the kitchen around here. Last week I made lots of pans of chocolate fudge, and got it in the mail to Laura, and my son, Mike.
I have made my fudge for 34 years I think, and it just wouldn't be Christmas without it.

But it's definitely fun to change things up, and try something new. Samantha made this Eggnog Fudge yesterday, and it is just fabulous.
It is really creamy, and the eggnog flavor is delicious. This recipe will be added to our yearly must-make list, for sure.

I know we are getting short on time here, but this fudge is so worth whipping up at the last minute for friends and family to enjoy. And of course, it would be great at New Years, too.


Recipe for Eggnog Fudge:

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup salted butter
3/4 cup eggnog
10.5 ounces white chocolate bar, chopped into small pieces
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, plus a little more for dusting top of fudge
1 7-ounce jar marshmallow creme
1 teaspoon rum extract

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Friday, December 20, 2013

Copycat Recipe For Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits



Have you ever had those golden, melt-in-your-mouth biscuits from Red Lobster restaurant?

Oh my, they are so good, and one of my favorite reasons to go there. But now I've found a recipe that creates biscuits so much like the restaurant's, I don't think I could tell them apart. The recipe is super easy to put together, and they reheat beautifully.

And they are perfect to go with a Christmas ham, or a festive dinner on New Year's Eve. Yum!!


Ingredients:

2 cups Bisquick biscuit mix
2/3 cup whole milk
1/2 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley

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Thursday, December 19, 2013

Snowball Cookie Recipe


As the children get older and start attending school (elementary or preschool) holiday teachers gifts are something we love to make and buy. Teachers are a very important part of our lives, they help mold our children into the adults they will someday be. I want them to know how important they are to not only my children, but to our family as a whole. Homemade gifts, along with a gift card to their favorite coffee shop or café are a pretty standard gift for our family to give. This year we made Snowball Cookies for the teachers and they were a huge hit! The boys helped out by rolling the dough in the "snow", it ended up everywhere but at least they had fun!

 

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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

DIY Pinecone Christmas Trees


As a child the magic of Christmas was always in the decorations, especially ones that my brothers and sisters and I had made ourselves. Every year our mother would pull out the decorations we had made over the years and floods of great memories always came to mind.

I set out to do a simple project with my little ones, something easy, fun with instant results. These Pinecone Christmas Trees were perfect for my 3 year old and almost 2 year old.


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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

A Healthy Dinner, Pasta With Ground Turkey and Broccoli




I have to confess that I haven't had much luck staying away from all the holiday goodies lately.

I've been making cupcakes, and cookies and fudge lately, and sampling everyone else's yummy food and treats, and I'm beginning to feel the effects.

I need to bring in some healthy eating during the holidays, and not just indulge in heavy holiday meals.
This great tasting recipe for Pasta With Ground Turkey and Broccoli is just what I need to eat better and feel better. It's easy to put together, and the ground turkey is readily available at your grocery store.

I first published this on Popcorn and Pearls, but it's delicious enough to share it here, and I'll be making this again tonight.

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Sunday, December 15, 2013

Have A Merry Christmas With M&Ms and Forza Motorsport 5 #FueledbyMM #shop #cbias




Christmas is less than two weeks away, and I'm proud of myself for having already gotten most of my shopping done. There's a rumor going around in my family that Santa just might be bringing us an Xbox One this year. Wouldn't that be fun?

So I decided that it must be true, that Santa will deliver that highly coveted Xbox One to our house, and I will make it even merrier by buying the Forza Motorsport 5 game to go with it.

I got a little crafty when I wrapped the game, and I know my family will get some laughs when they see how I decorated the package. It's perfect for under the tree, and I love that it's a little tease of the Xbox One that they all want.


I went to Walmart to look for Forza  Motorsport 5 and I was relieved to see they had some in stock. I know this is a very popular game, and I wanted to be able to make sure I had one on Christmas morning.

Plus, Walmart has an easy way to get a $10 eGift Card when you buy this game and a qualifying bag of M&Ms.

We love M&Ms, so a snack and video games is a favorite way my family likes to spent time during the holidays. The 'kids' that love playing the video games in our family are mostly in their 20s and 30s now, but they pretty much revert to being ten year olds, and have a lot of fun together.

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Friday, December 13, 2013

Gingerbread Cupcakes With Gingerbread M&Ms



Baking gingerbread is one of the easiest ways to get me into the Christmas spirit. I just love the way it smells, and the delicious taste, too.

I usually bake it in a pan and slice it up, but cupcakes are more fun for my grandchildren to eat, especially when they are topped with yummy buttercream frosting and Gingerbread M&Ms. This is a fun recipe to let the kids help with on those long days of winter vacation.

Recipe for Gingerbread Cupcakes with M&Ms and Buttercream Frosting:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup molasses
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup Gingerbread M&Ms, chopped
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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Aurorae Yoga Backpack and Candle Review and Giveaway #sponsored



I've been doing yoga for quite a few years now. Believe me when I say that it has made a huge difference in my happiness in life.

I always encourage people to look into starting a yoga practice, and science now backs up the facts that yoga is good for you, both physically and mentally.

Having the right mat and yoga accessories is crucial to having a successful practice, and the company I like best for that is Aurorae Yoga.

They offer everything you need, including mats, comfortable yoga wear, props, accessories, and more.


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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Celebrate Birthdays With Hallmark Cards From Walmart #birthdaysmiles #shop #cbias




When you have a large family like I do, there are always lots of birthdays to celebrate. Some of those birthdays fall around the holidays, and I love giving Hallmark cards to send happy birthday wishes to the ones I love.

I really try to make an extra special effort for these holiday time birthdays, because they can so easily get overlooked in the rush and busyness of the season. My son-in-laws' birthday is on Christmas Eve, and he always remembered never feeling like his birthday was special when he was growing up.
Since he married into our family, we always have a party for him on Christmas Eve.


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Mini Blueberry Muffins


I don't know about you but I love anything that comes in a mini form and mini muffins are no exception. They are perfect for a quick little snack for you or your little ones. Put them in a Christmas cupcake liner and you can call it a holiday treat!

 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, at room temp
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup milk
2 1/2 cups fresh blueberries or 2 1/2 cups frozen blueberries

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Monday, December 9, 2013

Ergobaby Doll Carrier Review and Giveaway

Ergobaby
I love ergobaby, they are a quality company that carries beautiful items to help with all of your baby wearing needs. Ergobaby's ergonomic design is what gives you the ability to wear your baby longer. Not only do they have great carriers for you little one, but they have carriers for your little one to carry his or her "baby", how cute is that! The child-sized Ergobaby Doll Carrier is perfect for toting beloved dolls and other toy friends and is a great gift for a new big sister or brother. Kids are always wanting to be like mom or dad, what a great gift. The Doll Carrier can be worn in the front or back position and is made of 100% cotton.



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The power to Choose Energy #sponsored

 
It’s the season of savings and everyone is surfing the internet to find the hottest deals. I bet you never thought that you save big by shopping for your energy provider! At this time of year saving money on your energy bills is a must. There are so many extra expenses, from your heating bill that seems to skyrocket in the winter, all of the extra energy it takes for things like your Christmas tree and outdoor lights, to all of your holiday shopping expenses. I don't know about you but I would like to spend my money elsewhere, paying high prices on for your energy source when you don't have to seems like a waste.

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Sunday, December 8, 2013

Christmas Cranberry Walnut Bread



I'm always looking for easy recipes for quick breads, especially this time of year. A loaf of a yummy quick bread makes a wonderful homemade gift, or as a treat for yourself at home with a cup of tea or coffee.

This recipe for Cranberry Walnut Bread is a favorite of mine. The cranberries have a delicious tarty taste, and the orange zest in it gives it a hint of citrus.


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Friday, December 6, 2013

Now Open: Elinor Friend Playground at the San Francisco Zoo




For my son's 4th b
irthday we were looking for something special to do. For his first birthday we took him to the Sacramento Zoo and his love of giraffes began there. We wanted to experience a large zoo with more animals and attractions to see. The San Francisco Zoo was the perfect answer for us. We had a wonderful time at the Zoo and we were able to have a preview of the new Elinor Friend Playground. The new playground has 3 different themed playgrounds that are each unique and offer different play experiences.


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Thursday, December 5, 2013

Holiday Peanut Butter Cookies


The holidays for us are about treats, treats and more treats! But not everybody likes things that are typically given at this time of year like fudge, hard candy or peppermint. Sometimes some good old fashion peanut butter cookies can make someone's day. Dressed up with some twine and a sweet container they can be the perfect gift. Enjoy!



Ingredients:

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda                     
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt                     

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Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Hotter Slippers Review and Giveaway #sponsored

Hotter Shoes


This holiday season shoes and slippers are on the top of our Christmas lists. Not only do my children need new slippers (their feet are growing so fast) but my husband and I seem to need them too. My husband is a huge fan of slippers, he wears them anytime we are at home, especially as the weather turns cold. We don't have a "no shoe" policy at our house but as soon as we walk in the door all of the shoes come off and slippers on. Are shoes or slippers something you will be adding to your list? If so Hotter is the place to shop, they have a wide selection of quality shoes and slippers for men and women.

 

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Monday, December 2, 2013

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup



Thanksgiving is gone, and so is our lovely turkey. I had every intention of making turkey soup, but that didn't happen.

After giving some to departing relatives, making turkey sandwiches, and a yummy turkey stir-fry, there was none left. But it was yummy.

So, I'm back to making chicken soup, which I really do love. And I need some too, so that I can hopefully get over this nasty cold that has been lingering.

This is a super delicious soup that comes together pretty quickly, perfect for a main dish along side some crusty bread, or even cornbread.
You can also change up the veggies if you don't have all of these on hand.


Recipe for Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup:

Ingredients:

32 ounce box of chicken broth
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup frozen green beans
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
3 cups uncooked egg noodles
2 cups shredded chicken
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup heavy cream

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