Happy New Year!!

New Year's Resolutions for Living Frugally #sponsored

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.

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.

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

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

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

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!

 

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Ergobaby Doll Carrier Review and Giveaway

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.

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.

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.

Now Open: Elinor Friend Playground at the San Francisco Zoo

For my son's 4th birthday 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.

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                     

Hotter Slippers Review and Giveaway #sponsored

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.

 

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

Shop For Gorgeous Holiday Gifts At Mothology

It's all about shopping this weekend, I know. The stores and malls around here have been a little crazy, that's for sure.

It's so nice to shop from home, where you can avoid the crowds, and have a warm drink by your side, right?

Easy Pasta Casserole

It's the day before Thanksgiving, and I know everyone is thinking about all that cooking they will be doing tomorrow. Yummy, right?

But if you are like me and my family, at some point this weekend you will need a break from turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce.

This is where an easy but delicious pasta casserole recipe will come in very handy. This one is almost cheating, because it calls for a jar of spaghetti sauce, and is so simple to make, but it's really tasty.


Recipe for Easy Pasta Casserole

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef
3 cups elbow or tube pasta, cooked
1 24oz. jar spaghetti sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
2 cups Monterey Jack/Cheddar Cheese combo

HearthSong Legends of Magic Kit with DVD Review and Giveaway #sponsored

 

My oldest son is about to turn 7 years old, like most 7 year olds he is starting to find out what his real interests are. It is so neat to see him learning about life, our planet, the way things work, and recently the "magic" of magic. We went to a birthday party where they had a magician, Jayden was memorized, watching and waiting to see the magicians every move. He was studying him so hard, trying to see exactly how he executed each trick. When we left all he could talk about was how awesome it was, he asked if magic was real because although he thought it was great, he also had his doubts. Jayden is a "has to see it to believe it kind of kid" and magic was just so out of this world to him. He wanted to learn the magicians tricks so I knew he would love the HearthSong Legends of Magic Kit with DVD!

 

Baking Candy Cane Chocolate Cupcakes With Land O' Lakes Butter #HolidayButter #shop #cbias

Holiday baking has been a long tradition in my family, so I'm very excited to be in the kitchen baking some of my favorite treats.

Chocolate and peppermint are a must during the holiday season, so I combined the two and made these yummy cupcakes.

My grandchildren were thrilled when they saw them, and it was a real struggle for them to wait until after dinner to have one.

The key to successful baking for me, is using the highest quality ingredients that I can. Butter is one of those ingredients, and I always like stocking up on it at this time of the year.

Homemade Apple Pie + Adding ZEST to your weekend!

I have told everyone how much I like pie and desserts in general, I cannot pass on a good looking pie, I just can't. And in the beginning of the fall season I shared a recipe for Homemade Apple Pie with Lemon ZEST. It was a huge hit so I wanted to share it again in case you missed it. Not to mention you can wow your Thanksgiving guests with this zesty pie!

This time the recent pie I made was for a charity auction at Liam's preschool. Every year they auction off homemade desserts and treats, it is a smashing hit and brings in hundreds of dollars! Ever need a charity idea? Food always bring in the dough! Here is the recipe, ENJOY!

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
•  Pie Dough, your recipe of store bought crust, whichever you prefer     
• 10 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
• 3/4 cup sugar, plus additional for pie top
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• Pinch ground cloves
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 egg, beaten

Why I'm Smiling it Forward #SmilingItForward #sponsored

I’m SMILING IT FORWARD™ because right now everyone in our family is happy and healthy. But that is not always the case around our house. Recently all of my children were hit hard with the flu and all at the same time. Of course, when they are sick all they want is mom. When you’re a mom seeing your children sick is so tough. Not only do we want to snuggle them and do anything to make them feel better, but we also want to take away their sickness. To help ease their pain and fevers we always turn to TYLENOL®, I know it is safe and effective for my children.

 

Not everyone has the luxury of things like medicine or health care to help when their children are sick, that's where Children's Health Fund comes in. Their mobile medical clinics provide children in need with access to the doctors, nurses and medicine they deserve. You can help do your part by loading a picture to SMILING IT FORWARD™ , and with every photo uploaded TYLENOL® will donate $1 to Children's Health Fund. What a simple and great way to help other children in need!
 

Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies

Recipe for Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies

Ingredients:

Filling:
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 egg
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Brownies:
1 regular size box brownie mix
water, vegetable oil, and eggs called for in brownie mix
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Uncle Milton National Geographic Review and Giveaway #sponsored

Finding unique and fun gifts for my children over the holiday season is one thing I like to do, feeling like your child has that special something is worth searching for. If you are looking for toys and gifts to give your little ones that not everyone will have then Uncle Milton is the place to shop! They have product lines like National Geographic, Fireworks Light Show,  Marvel Science, and more.

Dana Renee Style Jewelry Review and Giveaway #sponsored

I love the ease of doing my holiday shopping online. Especially when I find a shop that has beautiful things at a price I can afford.

Dana Renee Style Jewelry is an online jewelry shop that makes and sells lovely and unique handmade jewelry.

 Dana Renee Style Jewelry offers earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings in a variety of styles, with something to appeal to every woman.

Dana's inspiration for creating her jewelry comes from vintage clothing, nature, photography, and whatever happens to catch her eye.

Apple Tree Handprint Project

 

With Thanksgiving coming up next week we have been talking about giving, sharing and loving your family and friends. A great way for children to relate to this in real life is to read them a story about the subject. That is why we have been reading The Giving Tree , a family favorite. All this reading sparked the Apple Tree project below! I love it when the story continues into real life, it really seems like the children are understanding and absorbing what we are teaching.