July 31, 2009

Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes

We had some free time today, so as I was looking through our Family Fun Magazine, I found this recipe.

Pineapple Upside-down Cupcakes

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:

For the batter:
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter
1/2 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 1/2teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the topping:
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter
3/4 cup light or dark brown sugar, tightly packed
6 maraschino cherries
1 (20-ounce) can pineapple rings

1. Heat the oven to 350°. Place the butter and milk for the batter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Warm the mixture, stirring occasionally, until the butter melts, then transfer the mixture to a small bowl to cool. 


2. Meanwhile, prepare the pine-apple topping. Into each cup of a 12-cup muffin pan, add 1/2 tablespoon of unmelted butter, then evenly sprinkle 1 tablespoon of brown sugar over the bottom. Place the pan in the oven until the butter melts, about 3 minutes. 

      

3. Halve each maraschino cherry, then cut the pineapple rings into quarters. Place a cherry half, sliced side up, in the center of each cup and lay a pineapple quarter on each side. Press the fruit gently down into the butter-sugar mixture, then set the prepared pan aside. 
4. Finish making the batter. In a medium-size bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt, and stir the ingredients with a fork until they're evenly blended. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and stir until the flour is fully incorporated. Add the milk-butter mixture and stir well to combine the ingredients into a smooth batter.  

  

5. Pour the batter into the muffin pan, dividing it evenly among all the cups. Bake the cupcakes until they're lightly browned, dry around th edges, and pulling away from the pan a little, about 25 minutes.  
6. Transfer the pan to a rack to cool for 5 minutes. Use a butter knife to carefully loosen each cupcake from the edges and bottom of the pan, then place a cookie sheet over the top. Invert the pan, turning the cupcakes out onto the cookie sheet, then transfer them back to the rack to cool completely.

 

Serve the cupcakes at room temperature. Makes 12 cupcakes.



July 30, 2009

Walgreens 15% off Coupon this Friday Only



Just got done surfing through other people's blogs that I follow and it looks like this could be a great coupon to use July 31st, with Walgreens Photostamp Deal. Check out Common Sense with Money's Blog to read more on how to get free stamps!!

Print this coupon here.



July 28, 2009

My Bathroom Curtains



Just wanted to share with you all my latest project - my (front) bathroom curtains.  They turned out okay, and I love it when they blow in the breeze!  I used the leftover material from my bedroom curtains to match our new green shower curtain that I got from Goodwill a month ago.  

I took down the pink blinds that my in-laws left here when they moved, and finally got around to updating the front bathroom.  So I just thought I'd share these with you.  :)


CVS Trip



This was the only trip that I've taken to CVS where they've had almost everything on my list to get!  I was so excited!  These are mostly school supplies that I'll be giving to our church backpack drive.  All the school supplies I got were free with CVS Extra Care bucks.

I made two transactions, one was:

Copy Paper - 2/$10 (got $5 ECB)
Toothpaste - $2.88 (used $1 off coupon, and got $2 ECB)
Kashi Crackers and Bars - $3.33 each (by $10 Kashi product, get $5 ECB)(used 3 $1.50 coupons)
Total = $11.61 (got $12 ECB back)

Second Transaction:

CVS Tampons - $1.89 (got $1.89 ECB)
Pens - $0.99 each (got $1.98 ECB)
Composition Books - $0.99 each (got $1.98 ECB)
Sticky Notes -  $0.99 each (got $1.98 ECB)
Push Pins -  $0.99 each (got $1.98 ECB)
(I used all my ECB from the previous transaction, so I had a few extra ECB leftover, so that's why I got the M&Ms and Gum)

Total = $1.30 (got $10 ECB)



Grocery Shoppping - Schnucks and IGA



I stayed under our $40 grocery budget this week and only spent a total of $38.94.  I shopped at Shnucks and IGA this week, because by the time I got out to go shopping it was past 8:00pm, and Aldi and CVS were closed.

At Schnucks:

Dole Fruit - $1.00 each (for the mixed fruit I had a 0.55 off coupon), and with the purchase of 4 you got a $0.75 Catalina coupon.

Apples - $1.44

Peppers - $1 each

Kraft Macaroni - $1 each (had a coupon for buy 3 get the 4th free)

Wacky Mac - $1 (had a coupon to buy one get one free) so they were $0.50 each.

Creamy Pesto mix - $1

Yogurt - $2.50

Carrots - $0.89

Rice Cakes - $1.89

Hot Dogs - $0.99

Bottom Roast - $5.64 ($0.99/lb.)

Pork Steak - $2.94 (had a 25% off sticker)

Schnucks Chicken Thighs - $3.36 ($0.99/lb)

Total with coupons = $35.94

IGA

Peaches - $1.24 ($0.99/lb.)

Grapes - $1.70 ($0.99/lb.)

Total = $2.94


July 22, 2009

Walgreens Run


I went to Walgreens today after the library and wanted to snag some of the deals that they have for school supplies.  Here's what we came out with:



The dawn soap was $0.99 with Walgreens coupon, and I had a $0.25 off coupon, so they were $0.75 each.  I will give these to the food pantry at our church.

The Pez candy is for Zechariah, I promised that I would get him some more. :)

The Papermate pens were $0.19 each.  As well as the Papermate pencils.

The Bic Highlighters were $0.49 each, and I had a $1 off coupon, making them free!

The G2 pens were $1, and then they printed off $1 off Register Rewards for the next time I shop at Walgreens. (I heard you can do this transaction numerous times).

That's all for now!



July 20, 2009

Goodwill Findings




I felt lucky when I headed over to Goodwill today.  I was really looking for a new pair of Kakhi's because the ones that I have and love, have too many holes in them.  I have gotten several hints from my husband and now from my sister, so I figured that I'd check out Goodwill for a new pair.

And to top it off the Kakhi's were from Express and they were 50% off!  So I got them for $1.99!


I also tried on some other pants and jeans there and I was excited to find some great finds!  The rest of the pants were $3.99.  The black work out pants are from Lady Foot Locker, the next pair are from Candies, the next are from Express, and the brown slacks are from Relativity, and the Kakhi's are from Express. 

I also grabbed a cute pair of short overalls for little Silas that were 50% off, so they were $0.88!!!  And they're from OshKosh!  Super cute!

  





July 13, 2009

County Market Grocery Trip



My mother-in-law and sister-in-law were so helpful tonight in taking the boys out to dinner/park/ice cream while I went and ran a few errands. My husband is out of town this week, and there were so many good deals at County Market, that it worked out to have family watch the boys while I ran out.

County Market is having a huge $1 sale this week. Even though the boys and I will be out of town this week on vacation, I still wanted to score some good deals before we leave.

I bought 36 items and only spent $32.13. I was very proud! All the snack-paks in the front of the picture were all $1 each. Those will be great on our vacation! They're originally $2.29.

The grapes are on sale for $1/lb.

And the cereal was on sale for $1.77, and with these coupons here and here, they're pretty cheap. Also combines with those coupons )$1.50 off 3 boxes) that you get for cereal whenever you shop at County Market (the ones that print out with your receipt).

Happy shopping!





CVS Trip



I was very pleased with my CVS trip tonight. I got 2 AirWick air freshners for $0.99 each. They were on sale for $4.99 and with this coupon, you get them for $0.99. So if you're in need of a new scent, this is it!

Also the Cheerios were $0.50 each, with this $1 off two coupon.

And the photo books were $7.99 for all 5. I got them all on seperate transactions, and used the $7.99 Extra Care Bucks (that printed out each transaction) to get them for super cheap. If you're curious about CVS' Extra Care Program, check it out here.



CVS Photo Book


Okay, so I just got back from CVS and it's confirmed, the 6x8 photo books are $7.99 and then you get $7.00 Extra Care Bucks back! SO I did this deal 5 times and got 5 photo books for basically free!! It was awesome! If you have a CVS near you, I highly suggest you get in on this deal this week. This will make a great gift for someone!!

July 8, 2009

Check this out!

So, lately I've been just surfing other people's blog to find out creative, frugal ways that we can change ordinary things into something terrific! Here is one blog that has me inspired. Check out how this mom has changed an ordinary entertainment center into this:





Pretty amazing huh? Check out her blog.



July 7, 2009

CVS Trip

I haven't been to CVS in I don't know how long.  I mainly went there to score some free Post cereal, but alas, they were completely out.  I'll have to try to go on Thursday, when they restock.  Check out the deal here.

This week there are some good deals.  



I spent a total of $10 even on the purchases above.  I made 2 transactions, so that I could use some of my CVS Extra Care Bucks on my 2nd transaction.  I copied what moneysavingmom.com suggested and it was a great find.
--------------------

Buy $10 Worth of select Febreze products, Get $5 ECBs (Limit 5) 
Includes Febreze Candles or Noticeables Starter Kit--$6.50; Air Effects--$3; or Fabric Refresher--$5

*Deal Idea*
Buy 2 Febreze Noticeables Start Kits at $6.50 each
Use 2 $4/1 coupons from the 7/5 P&G insert
Free after coupons and ECBs

Buy 2 Dawn Dish Soaps at $1 each, Get $1 ECBs (Limit 1)
Buy 2 and use 2 $0.25/1 coupons from the 6/7 or 7/5 P&G inserts
$0.25 each after coupons and ECBs

Buy 1 Colgate Total Advanced or Sensitive Toothpaste at $3.49, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $1/1 coupon in the 6/28 SmartSource insert or 
the $1/1 coupons here 
$0.49 after coupon and ECBs

Buy 1 select P&G shampoo or conditioner at $4.99, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 3)

*Deal Idea*
Buy 2 Head & Shoulders shampoo or conditioner at $4.99 each
Use 1 B1G1 coupon from the 7/5 P&G insert
Spend $4.99 plus tax out of pocket
Get $4 ECBs back
$0.49 each after coupon and ECBs



Banana Muffins



We had these 3 bananas that were definitely going bad and needed to be used up soon, so here's a recipe that I found out of my Betty Crocker Cookbook.  



Banana Muffins

Streusel Topping (below), if desired
1/3 c. milk
1/4 c. vegetable oil
1 large egg
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. mashed very ripe bananas (2 medium)


Streusel Topping

1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon 
2 Tbsp. firm butter or stick margarine

1.) Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Grease bottoms only of 12 medium muffin cups, with shortening or line with paper baking cups.

2.) Make Streusel Topping; set aside.


3.) Beat milk, oil and egg in large bowl with whisk.  Stir in flour, sugar, baking powder and  salt all at once just until flour is moistened (batter will be lumpy).  Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.  Sprinkle each with about 1 Tbsp. topping.



4.)  Bake 20 -25 minutes. 




I think I got 2 thumbs up from my peanut gallery:







July 1, 2009

Goodwill Findings

I went to Goodwill the other day when the had the day off from being a mom.  I had been reading a similar blog to mine The Frugal Girl, and she said that lately she's been into wearing skirts more than shorts for the summer.  I agree with her reasoning in wearing skirts more than shorts.  

So I headed over to Goodwill just to check out their skirt section.  All their skirts are $2.50. Here's what I found:


(cute pink skirt with a silver decoration-button-thingy on the upper right)
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The second skirt I found is a grayish color and is more dressy looking.  I shot a close up of the sort of pleats with "____" ((can't think of the word)) under it)

  
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Here's my favorite out of all that I got.  
It's a light blue and brown paisley print skirt.  
Cute, huh?